Comparative anatomy of the caudate nucleus in canids and felids: Associations with brain size, curvature, cross‐sectional properties, and behavioral ecology

• Published in: Journal of comparative neurology (1911) 2024-05, Vol.532 (5), p.e25618-n/a
• Main Authors: Foster, Michael, Dwibhashyam, Sai, Patel, Devan, Gupta, Kanika, Matz, Olivia C., Billings, Brendon K., Bitterman, Kathleen, Bertelson, Mads, Tang, Cheuk Y., Mars, Rogier B., Raghanti, Mary Ann, Hof, Patrick R., Sherwood, Chet C., Manger, Paul R., Spocter, Muhammad A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Behavior, Animal - physiology; brain; Brain - anatomy & histology; Canidae; Canidae - anatomy & histology; Carnivora; Caudate nucleus; Caudate Nucleus - anatomy & histology; Caudate Nucleus - diagnostic imaging; Developmental biology; Domestication; Emotions; Felidae; Felidae - anatomy & histology; Felidae - physiology; Female; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Motor task performance; Neuroimaging; Phenotypes; RRID:SCR_002010; RRID:SCR_003430; RRID:SCR_005988; scaling; Species Specificity
• ISSN: 0021-9967; 1096-9861; 1096-9861
• DOI: 10.1002/cne.25618

The evolutionary history of canids and felids is marked by a deep time separation that has uniquely shaped their behavior and phenotype toward refined predatory abilities. The caudate nucleus is a subcortical brain structure associated with both motor control and cognitive, emotional, and executive functions. We used a combination of three‐dimensional imaging, allometric scaling, and structural analyses to compare the size and shape characteristics of the caudate nucleus. The sample consisted of MRI scan data obtained from six canid species (Canis lupus lupus, Canis latrans, Chrysocyon brachyurus, Lycaon pictus, Vulpes vulpes, Vulpes zerda), two canid subspecies (Canis lupus familiaris, Canis lupus dingo), as well as three felids (Panthera tigris, Panthera uncia, Felis silvestris catus). Results revealed marked conservation in the scaling and shape attributes of the caudate nucleus across species, with only slight deviations. We hypothesize that observed differences in caudate nucleus size and structure for the domestic canids are reflective of enhanced cognitive and emotional pathways that possibly emerged during domestication. The families to which modern cats and dogs belong share a deep ancestory, which has uniquely shaped their behavior and nervous system. Here we evaluate the relative size and shape of the caudate nucleus, a brain structure involved in cognition, emotion and executive functions. These data is important for contextualizing our knowledge on the brains of these Carnivora as well as inspiring further study of these understudied mammals.