Dogs can sense weak thermal radiation

Bálint, AnnaLund University,Lunds universitet,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science,Eötvös Loránd University (author)

The dog rhinarium (naked and often moist skin on the nose-tip) is prominent and richly innervated, suggesting a sensory function. Compared to nose-tips of herbivorous artio- and perissodactyla, carnivoran rhinaria are considerably colder. We hypothesized that this coldness makes the dog rhinarium particularly sensitive to radiating heat. We trained three dogs to distinguish between two distant objects based on radiating heat; the neutral object was about ambient temperature, the warm object was about the same surface temperature as a furry mammal. In addition, we employed functional magnetic resonance imaging on 13 awake dogs, comparing the responses to heat stimuli of about the same temperatures as in the behavioural experiment. The warm stimulus elicited increased neural response in the left somatosensory association cortex. Our results demonstrate a hitherto undiscovered sensory modality in a carnivoran species.

Andics, AttilaEötvös Loránd University,Hungarian Academy of Sciences (author)
Gácsi, MártaEötvös Loránd University (author)
Gábor, AnnaHungarian Academy of Sciences,Eötvös Loránd University (author)
Czeibert, KálmánEötvös Loránd University (author)
Luce, Chelsey M.Lund University,Lunds universitet,Funktionell zoologi,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Functional zoology,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science,University of Bremen(Swepub:lu)ch8132lu (author)
Miklósi, ÁdámEötvös Loránd University (author)
Kröger, Ronald H.H.Lund University,Lunds universitet,Funktionell zoologi,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Syngruppen,Forskargrupper vid Lunds universitet,Functional zoology,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science,Lund Vision Group,Lund University Research Groups(Swepub:lu)zool-rkr (author)
Biologiska institutionenNaturvetenskapliga fakulteten (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Bálint, Anna; Andics, Attila; Gácsi, Márta; Gábor, Anna; Czeibert, Kálmán; Luce, Chelsey M.; show more...; Miklósi, Ádám; Kröger, Ronald H ...; show less...

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NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Physical Science ...; and Other Physics To ...

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