Canine brain networks reveal insights into mammalian evolution

A new canine resting state fMRI brain atlas has been developed to investigate the brain mechanisms that influence a dog's learning and memory, resulting in superior dog training methods as well as knowledge on the evolutionary steps that led to the development of human brain function. The study reveals that during mammalian brain evolution, the role of the cingulate cortex was partly taken over by the lateral frontal lobes, which control problem-solving, task-switching, and goal-directed behavior. The new rs-fMRI brain atlas can aid in the investigation of conditions in which integration and communication across brain areas are impaired, resulting in a dysfunctional division of tasks.