Nervous System and Dog Cognition (copy)

Nervous System

Organizes perception and behavior in animals, acting as the central processing unit coordinating sensory input and motor output.

Cranial Nerves

Nerves located in the brain that control vital functions such as heart rate, digestion, and breathing, often without conscious awareness.

Encephalization Quotient (EQ)

The ratio of observed brain size to predicted brain size based on the average mammalian trend.

Gyration Index

A measure that quantifies the degree of folding in the cerebral cortex, calculated as the ratio of total cortical surface area to exposed cortical area.

Telencephalon

The frontmost part of the brain, which includes the cerebral hemispheres and basal ganglia.

Cerebral Hemisphere Gyration

The varying degrees of folding in mammalian brains that create hidden cortex within sulci (fissures).

Olfactory Receptor Neurons (ORNs)

Neurons in the nasal cavity that detect odorant molecules and transmit information to the olfactory bulb.

Somatic Sensation

The sense involving touch, joint position, pain, and temperature, with sensory input provided by spinal and trigeminal nerves.

Hippocampus

A C-shaped structure in the brain responsible for environmental mapping and memory transfer to the neocortex.

Corticopontine Tract

A motor pathway that influences the cerebellum for fine motor control.

Diencephalon

A region of the brain containing the thalamus and hypothalamus, involved in sensory relay and homeostasis.

Visual Pathway

The route by which visual information travels from the retina through the optic nerves and optic chiasm to the brain.

Meninges

Three connective tissue layers (dura, arachnoid, pia mater) that provide protection for the brain.

Neural Tube

A structure formed during brain development that eventually gives rise to the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebellum

The brain structure involved in motor control, coordination, and balance, highly folded with many neurons.

Cortex Layers

The organization of the cerebral cortex into layers that reflect input processing.

Gray Matter

The part of the brain that contains neuron cell bodies, dendrites, and synapses, collectively referred to as neuropil.

White Matter

Part of the brain that appears white due to myelin and contains long-range nerve fibers (axons).

Auditory Processing

The areas in the brain that process sound signals, starting from the inner ear to the auditory cortex.

Human-animal interactions

Examples of dog cognition that relate to how dogs respond to human gestures and touch.

Hydrocephaly

A condition that occurs when there is a blockage in the ventricular system, leading to an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid.

Limbic System

The part of the brain involved in emotions, behavior, and memory, including structures like the hippocampus and amygdala.