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In a groundbreaking study shedding light on the cognitive abilities of our beloved canine companions, researchers at the Department of Ethology at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) have revealed that dogs may possess a fundamental component of intelligence akin to the human “g factor.”
Published in GeroScience, the study delves into the intricate workings of dog cognition, uncovering striking similarities to human intelligence and offering insights into the aging process in both species.
Lead author Borbála Turcsán expressed surprise at the lack of focus on individual differences in canine cognitive abilities in previous research, prompting their investigation into the structure of dogs’ cognitive faculties.
The researchers devised a battery of seven tasks to evaluate the cognitive performance of 129 family dogs aged between three and fifteen years. Over two and a half years, they observed a hierarchical structure in the dogs’ performances, mirroring that seen in human cognition.
Two broad cognitive domains emerged: independent problem-solving and learning ability. Dogs with superior problem-solving skills tended to learn new tasks more rapidly, indicating the presence of a higher-order cognitive factor, termed the “canine g factor.”
To validate the existence of this general cognitive factor, the researchers examined its correlation with various individual characteristics associated with intelligence. They found that dogs with higher g factor scores exhibited greater exploratory behavior, interest in novelty, and performance in learning situations.
Moreover, these scores were linked to the dogs’ personalities, with high g factor scores aligning with heightened activity levels and trainability. This resemblance to human intelligence extends beyond structure to external correlations, highlighting intriguing parallels between canine and human cognition.
The study also delved into the aging process in dogs, revealing a global cognitive decline with age akin to human aging. However, this decline was influenced by the health status of the dogs, with those in poorer health exhibiting a faster decline.
These findings offer valuable insights into the aging process in both dogs and humans, laying the groundwork for future research into the molecular and neurological underpinnings of cognitive decline.
Lead researcher Enikő Kubinyi emphasized the significance of these findings, asserting that dogs serve as an excellent model species for aging research and can contribute to our understanding of human intelligence and aging.
As our understanding of canine cognition deepens, so too does our appreciation for the remarkable intelligence of our four-legged friends, paving the way for further exploration into the mysteries of the mind—both canine and human.
