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Authors & Affiliations
Mélina Cordeau, Isabel Levin, Mira Sinha, Erin Hecht
Abstract
The utilization of language distinguishes humans uniquely within the animal kingdom. Nevertheless, due to dogs evolving in parallel with humans, their brains have undergone positive selection, enabling them to comprehend human language to a certain extent. This divergence sets them apart in the animal kingdom, marking a distinction from non-human primates. Our hypothesis posits that dogs have independently developed a white matter pathway connecting cortical areas associated with vocal perception to higher brain regions responsible for generating suitable responses to human vocal communication.This research encompasses a neuroanatomical investigation into pathways linking vocal production and receptive communication centers in the canine brain. Utilizing anatomical and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, we specifically probed the arcuate fasciculus (FA), a controversial yet recognized pathway associated with the language network. We present both qualitative and quantitative results from tractography, engaging in discussions about potential correlations with prior research. Additionally, we explore plausible links between domestication and the evolution of the language network in dogs.Our study establishes a foundation for subsequent inquiries into anatomical rearrangements during dog domestication and the repercussions of human language on the brains of dogs exposed to varying levels of domestication. Comprehending these anatomical adjustments tied to dogs' adaptation to human language may offer valuable insights into the corresponding changes in humans, elucidating their acquisition of language and its evolutionary trajectory.