Animal Learning and Lateralization Lecture

Flashcards covering bird and mammal brain lateralization, cognitive testing methodology in dogs, and the relationship between lateral preference and temperament.

Hippocampus

The area of the brain where fast, temporary learning occurs; it is known for declarative memory in humans and relational memory in animals.

Neocortex

The brain region responsible for slow learning, where information becomes permanent and is integrated with existing knowledge.

Brain Lateralization

The specialization of each side of the brain for processing different information and producing an asymmetry in function.

Left Hemisphere functions (Humans)

Primarily responsible for speech production and controlling familiar routines like washing hands or driving a car.

Right Hemisphere functions (Humans)

Specializes in bottom-up processing, noticing details, and responding to novel stimuli.

Counter-lateral processing

The phenomenon where the side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body, such as the right eye accessing the left side of the brain.

Bird Brain Lateralization

Unlike mammals, the hemispheres are less connected; birds generally use the left eye to check for predators and the right eye to forage for food.

Ambilateral

A lack of lateral bias where an animal uses both paws or sides equally, often associated with higher reactivity, fear, or anxiety.

Motor Laterality

The preference for using one side of the body for motor tasks, such as paw preference in dogs which is a validated measure of brain function.

Kong Test

A task used to measure paw preference in dogs by observing which paw they use to hold a conical toy while retrieving food.

First Stepping Task

A measurement of motor laterality that observes which paw a dog uses to step off a platform or step first.

Detour Task

A problem-solving test involving a V-shaped fence used to measure the time and direction an animal takes to reach a desired object.

MCPQR

The Monash Canine Personality Questionnaire-Revised, a measure used to assess five elements of dog temperament similar to the human personality model.

C-BARQ

A widely used online research tool for collecting data and measuring personality traits and temperament in dogs globally.

Neuroticism (Dog Temperament)

A trait where higher scores are associated with a dog being less likely to complete task-based tests and often linked to a left-paw preference.

Functional MRI (fMRI)

A medical technique used to study brain activity by analyzing blood flow to specific areas, such as the caudate nucleus in dogs when anticipating rewards.

Caudate Nucleus

A part of the brain that responds to rewards like music, food, or money in humans, and has been found to activate similarly in dogs during reward anticipation.

Intelligence (Animal Context)

The ability of animals to use experience gained in specific settings to generalize behavior in novel situations.

Visual Hemifield Bias

The tendency to process information differently depending on which side of the visual field it appears; for example, the left hemifield (right brain) pays more attention to novel stimuli.

Conscientiousness (Owner-Dog Relationship)

A human personality trait where higher scores are positively related to the owner rating their dog as having better training focus and motivation.