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Study Finds Dogs Are Brainier Than Cats (vanderbilt.edu)

Posted by BeauHD on from the contrary-to-popular-belief dept.

Science_afficionado writes: Are you a cat lover? A dog lover? If so, you may be interested in the first scientific study to actually count the number of cortical neurons in the brains of a number of carnivores, including cats and dogs. Bottom line: Dogs have about twice as many of these "little grey cells" as cats. These "little gray cells" are associated with thinking, planning and complex behavior. The study found that dogs have about 530 million cortical neurons while cats have about 250 million. (For comparison, the human brain has 16 billion.) Another interesting discovery was that carnivores have about the same ratio of neurons to brain size as that of herbivores, "suggesting that there is just as much evolutionary pressure on the herbivores to develop the brain power to escape from predators as there is on carnivores to catch them," reports Vanderbilt University. "The study's findings also challenge the prevailing view that domesticated animals have smaller brains than their wild cousins. The ratios of brain size to body weight of the domestic species they analyzed -- ferret, cat and dog -- did not scale in a significantly different manner from those of their wild relatives -- mongoose, raccoon, hyena, lion and brown bear."

The results of the study are described in a paper titled "Dogs have the most neurons, though not the largest brain: Trade-off between body mass and number of neurons in the cerebral cortex of large carnivoran species" accepted for publication in the open access journal Frontiers in Neuroanatomy.

39 of 330 comments (clear)

  1. What about the various cat/dog breeds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I would be curious about breed specifics and percentage difference if any or other genetic factors as some are waaaay smarter than others.

    1. Re:What about the various cat/dog breeds by jellomizer · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Different breeds may be smarter then others. But that is due to us breeding them for different traits.
      However I doubt that there is a huge variation. As often traits that we equate to being smart for a dog, doesn't always require more brain power.
      As the article points out wild animals seem to be brainier, however a wolf doesn't have a lot of traits that we equate to intelligence that our pet dog has.
      For examples Dogs can understand the abstract concept of pointing, while wolves cannot. Dogs can be taught a lot of tricks and behaviors that may be outside their normal instinctive behavior, while wolves do not. However Dogs bark and make a lot of noise, and are much more disorganized in hunting by themselves, which would put them at a disadvantage in a non-human world. Dogs and Humans had created a symbiotic relationship. So the Dog has evolved to at least react to our weird abstract concepts, in a way that pleases us, they do not really understand the concept of being tethered, but they realize there is a boundary and past that us humans needs to be with them.

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    2. Re:What about the various cat/dog breeds by Freischutz · · Score: 2

      "Smarter" is a subjective, human-centric criterion. The article talks about "brainier" and the NUMBER of neurons. Big difference -- if YOU were smarter, that is.

      There is a debate in palaeontology about how to best measure the level of advancement of ancient hominid species. Until pretty recently brain size was one of the main metrics. What happened to change that idea was a series of finds of a number of 1.8 million years old Homo Erectus skulls at a place called Dmanisi in Georgia. The reason these finds are remarkable is not only because H Erectus remains very rare but also because these individuals lived in not only in the same place but also pretty much at the same time. Even so there is an enormous variation in morphological features in the Dmanisi adults, especially brain size. These skulls had a brain size from around 550 to 750 cubic centimetres where 550 cubic centimetres is pretty close to that of a much more archaic Australopithecus. In fact proportionately this is a smaller range of variation than you see in modern humans. So the question is how much in the way of conclusions can you draw from metrics like number of neurons and brain size in cubic centimetres? I'm almost 7 feet tall, have met modern humans two feet smaller than me with brains much smaller than mine that were every bit as intelligent as I am. The point is that it's not necessarily the number of neurons or the size of the brain that matters (although having more of one type of neuron than some other species might make a difference), the brain is a neural network (surprise, surprise) and what matters is (a) is the way the network is wired up and (b) the way the network is trained.

    3. Re:What about the various cat/dog breeds by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 5, Interesting

      As the article points out wild animals seem to be brainier, however a wolf doesn't have a lot of traits that we equate to intelligence that our pet dog has. For examples Dogs can understand the abstract concept of pointing, while wolves cannot. Dogs can be taught a lot of tricks and behaviors that may be outside their normal instinctive behavior, while wolves do not. However Dogs bark and make a lot of noise, and are much more disorganized in hunting by themselves, which would put them at a disadvantage in a non-human world.

      As someone who has owned a wolf in the past, I can assure you that you don't know what you are talking about. I was able to train him to sit, stay, heel, lay down and come in less than half a day. I never saw anything quite like it. I could also point at damn near anything and tell him to get it, and he would bring it to me. This included flies that got into the house. On the occasion that one would land out of his reach (basically the ceiling) he would sit and wait for it to move again. I just wish he would have taken them to the trash can rather then bring them to me.

      He was a great companion rather than a pet, but I would never think about doing that again as they are much more independent thinking than a dog. If there was someone or something he felt was a threat, it didn't matter what I said, he wanted to kill it. There were two occasions that I caught him mid air going for someones throat. After that I made sure to keep him away from anyone that he didn't like. He would also pin people to the floor if they moved around me in a threatening manner. Two things that I never quite figured out were why he hated bicycles and anyone having a gun other than myself. If anyone carried a gun onto my property, he would take it and bring it to me.

    4. Re:What about the various cat/dog breeds by Talderas · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Of course he doesn't know what he's talking about. He has no understand or grasp of how dog intelligence is consistently ranked. Dog intelligence can be identified and ranked on instinctual intelligence, adaptive intelligence, and working/obedience intelligence. The latter is how much time it takes to teach a dog a new command as well as how often the dog responds to the command the first time once taught it. Wolves aren't necessarily intelligent on that last ranking system. Human don't frequently value the instinctive or adaptive intelligences because they're not related to the tasks for which we've bred them however some breeds of dog are incredibly adaptively intelligence (Siberian huskies) and capable of solving problems on their own. Many of the most intelligent breeds by most obedience rankings aren't required to also have strong problem solving intelligence and that may be an undesirable trait when it comes to breeding a working dog.

      --
      "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
    5. Re:What about the various cat/dog breeds by bongey · · Score: 2

      Incorrect. Social complexity and interaction is one of the most key factors of an animal's intelligence. Throughout the animal kingdom the more complex the social interaction, the larger the brain is relative to body size. Stark example is Hammerhead Shark which gathers together in massive schools and has rather complex social structures, has a brain that is nearly twice the size of Great White Shark, while being 1/4. Again this happens for birds,elephants,dolphins, orcas,whales and the species with the most complex social interactions have the greatest ratio that being humans. The highly social African Wild Dogs are the most successful non-primate land hunters, with kill rates of 85-90% in various studies.Wild dog hunts are amazing to watch, each one is constantly checking what the others are doing and they work as one fluid group. Sadly they are endangered with about 5000 left in the wild.

  2. WE've won! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Cat lovers, cower in the corner with tails between your legs.

    Next battle to settle: vi vs emacs.

  3. Social Complexity by theweatherelectric · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Social complexity seems to be a driver for intelligence. Hyena society is quite complex with clans and a dominance hierarchy within each clan. Hyenas seem to have theory of mind and seem to practice tactical deception. Hyenas are also good cooperative problem solvers, outperforming primates.

    1. Re:Social Complexity by stealth_finger · · Score: 3, Informative

      FYI, theweatherelectric is a Mozilla employee. Look at the comment history. You'll find two types of comments: firefox advocacy, and abuse directed towards people calling her out for being a Mozilla employee. This describes 100% of her contributions to ./

      Umm that post was about hyenas, not foxes.

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    2. Re:Social Complexity by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Woah dude, lay off the stalking.

      --
      Eat the rich.
  4. There are differences between cats as well by tinkerton · · Score: 2

    Our cat doesn't appear to be very bright but it's very lovable.

    1. Re:There are differences between cats as well by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 2

      We have seven cats. There is a wide range of intelligence among them. The social order is complex and the 'alpha' cat is actually physically the one of the smallest.

  5. They may have more cells... by MoarSauce123 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...but cannot do their business on their own in a designated spot (cats can do that) and are inept to spend a few days alone (no problem with cats). I have come across many dumb dogs that bark constantly for no reason, but at least as many clever cats. More cells does not make one smarter.

    1. Re:They may have more cells... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You can train a dog to use a litter box, most people just don't care to bother. And I've never in my entire life ever met a cat I'd classify as "clever". Sneaky, greedy, sadistic, but nothing that indicated exceptional brain power. Contrast with dogs: We have seeing eye dogs, and guard dogs, and drug sniffing dogs, and herding dogs, and search and rescue dogs - all very complicated jobs that require (for an animal) pretty high intelligence.

      Also, although I prefer not having to constantly plan around my cat's loneliness that's actually a pretty good indicator it's not that bright. High socialization needs are part of the package deal of having a big, think-y brain. It's why solitary confinement is basically torture for humans, while a bearded lizard would not give a single fuck.

      I don't really like dogs myself, they slobber everywhere and are too in your face. Plus cats are far cuter. But come on. Anyone who's surprised dogs are the smarter species hasn't been paying attention.

    2. Re:They may have more cells... by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 4, Informative

      The dogs that bark constantly are bored to tears because their owners neglect them. People get dogs because they see that cute puppy and feel warm inside. It's all about the feels. Then the puppy grows to a dog and it's just annoying to deal with. Stick it outside leashed up and feed it once in a while. The feelings the dog generates are mostly negative and people get angry at the dog for making them feel this way. Honestly people shouldn't be allowed to get a dog unless they pass an empathy test but that would infringe on people's FREEDUMBS so we can't do that and millions of dogs suffer needlessly before they finally get taken to the vet to be killed for being inconvenient.

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    3. Re:They may have more cells... by avandesande · · Score: 2

      My corgi will can actually pass the 'marshmallow test'. When I am in the kitchen preparing food she is begging for scraps... and when I put some in her dish she will pretend she doesn't see them and continue begging for more! There are plenty of humans that can't manage this :)

      --
      love is just extroverted narcissism
    4. Re:They may have more cells... by arth1 · · Score: 2

      Cats aren't dumb. They just don't give a shit.

      Oh, they do. Like in a visitor's shoes.

    5. Re:They may have more cells... by AvitarX · · Score: 2

      The fact that they break the rules as payback mean that they DO grasp it I think.

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    6. Re:They may have more cells... by AmiMoJo · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Cat's use a brute force approach to intelligence.

      They don't understand cause and effect, and don't have object permanence (if they see a toy they don't understand it is the same toy they had yesterday, they just know it's /a/ toy and smells like them so it must be theirs). To make up for this, they are curious and patient. They will try things over and over again to see what happens, and learn through positive and negative re-enforcement.

      This can lead to some surprisingly clever behaviour. We have all see videos of cats opening doors and the like, they the most common one is to learn how to manipulate their staff. For example, adult cats don't meow in the wild, but quickly learn that it's the most efficient way to summon their servants and signal that it's time for a massage. Same with food, lot of people swear that their cats are fussy and will only take hand-fed choice cuts of chicken, but actually they just learned to keep ignoring food that is offered until the good stuff comes out.

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    7. Re:They may have more cells... by Major_Disorder · · Score: 2

      Honestly people shouldn't be allowed to get a dog unless they pass an empathy test but that would infringe on people's FREEDUMBS so we can't do that and millions of dogs suffer needlessly before they finally get taken to the vet to be killed for being inconvenient.

      There is no way I would have passed an empathy test before I got my dog, but he has taught me. I am a much better person now, thanks to him.
      Rocky is an ex-racing greyhound, I highly recommend them to anyone thinking about getting a dog. They are smarter than they are given credit for, and the most loving creatures in the world. (Also VERY low energy.)
      This is where I got him from:
      http://www.greyhoundpetsinc.or...

      --
      First law of people: People are generally stupid.
    8. Re:They may have more cells... by ffreeloader · · Score: 2

      I have had three dogs that have all been very careful where they did their business. Two would back up to a bush and drop their load under the bush where no one would see it or walk in it. The third is so small he just walks under the bushes. One dog would get extremely embarrassed if I asked him what he was doing when he was taking his dump. He would turn away from me and hang his head, and then slink off afterwards. The only way to get back in his good graces was to tell him it was OK and that he was a good dog.

      --
      "while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude." de Tocqueville
    9. Re:They may have more cells... by SuperKendall · · Score: 2

      As you say I've had cats attempt to try to open doors with the doorknob to get to a favorite feather toy they knows sits behind the door.

      Sometimes cats remember where something is hidden longer than I do...

      If you want my opinion the extra neurons dogs have are probably all related to processing smell.

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  6. Re:And that means? by Megol · · Score: 2

    Brainier.

  7. Re:Seriously? by amalcolm · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Does that mean I get smarter as I lose weight?

    --
    Time for bed, said Zebedee - boing
  8. There's a reason we don't train Cats by Ayano · · Score: 2, Interesting

    For rescue, or military, or even bomb detection. They're a comfort pet. Outside of biological advantages of dogs for these tasks, cats are difficult to train in those tasks as they're solitary animals.

    --
    I don't read AC
    1. Re:There's a reason we don't train Cats by geekmux · · Score: 2, Interesting

      For rescue, or military, or even bomb detection. They're a comfort pet. Outside of biological advantages of dogs for these tasks, cats are difficult to train in those tasks as they're solitary animals.

      You can call them solitary. You can call them regal. You can call them comfort pets.

      I call it dumb, and now science tends to confirm it, so perhaps we can stop with the excuses now. They aren't "difficult" to train; they can't be trained because they're rather stupid. Plain and simple. Usually the only one getting schooled around a cat is the owner.

    2. Re:There's a reason we don't train Cats by goose-incarnated · · Score: 5, Funny

      they can't be trained because they're rather stupid

      How well can you be trained ? Would you be able to obey simple commands such as sitting on the ground, or fetching a ball, in return for being told you're such a good boy ?

      Ever seen people play sports? You're disproving your own point here.

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    3. Re:There's a reason we don't train Cats by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 3, Funny

      They aren't "difficult" to train; they can't be trained because they're rather stupid.

      Well yeah, since they're basically the animal kingdom's foremost libertarians, so it makes sense that they're short-sighted, self-centered and dumb.

      Disclaimer: I like cats.

      --
      Eat the rich.
    4. Re:There's a reason we don't train Cats by david_thornley · · Score: 2

      Dogs thought they were smarter than cats because they herded animals and guided people and other things and cats just lay in the sun and relaxed. Cats thought they were smarter for the very same reasons.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    5. Re:There's a reason we don't train Cats by Green+Mountain+Bot · · Score: 3, Funny

      My cat is a communist. He insists that I provide the food and shelter on the sole basis of me having a much higher income. And he won't shut up about Mao.

  9. I doubt it by nospam007 · · Score: 5, Funny

    My dog runs 200 times to fetch a stick I throw, my cat gives me the 'fuck you' look the very first time and goes for a nap.

    1. Re:I doubt it by StormReaver · · Score: 2

      ...my cat gives me the 'fuck you' look the very first time and goes for a nap.

      I do the same thing when my boss asks me to do something.

  10. Re:Definitive test... by Baron_Yam · · Score: 2

    My cat would look at you like you're an idiot regardless of whether you really threw the ball or just faked it. I don't take that as a sign of intelligence or of stupidity. He's just a cat.

  11. They're as smart as they need be by dhaen · · Score: 2

    Each specie has evolved to be as smart as it needs to be, any further would be a waste of resources. Both cats and dogs may have evolved a little faster since they hitched a ride on human civilisation.

  12. Humans came to live with cats by Kludge · · Score: 2

    Cats came to live with humans? Pff. Give me a break. Cats discovered knuckle dragging humans and made humans their slaves. Humans now feed cats, open the door for them, rub them, open the door for them, and feed them to curry favor with the higher life forms known as cats.

    -Max the Cat

  13. Re:Border Collie by hierofalcon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've never seen a cat skeleton in a tree either.

  14. Dogs want fun by unfortunateson · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There has to be some level of entertainment for the dog too: My previous dog would carry tennis balls to the top of the stairs in order to drop them and chase them. No owner reward at all. Current dog won't fetch anything, even for a reward. If it's not moving, it has no interest at all: she only wants the chase.

    --
    Design for Use, not Construction!
  15. Re:Seriously? by shaitand · · Score: 2

    No, gaining and losing weight is generally a function of cells swelling and shrinking not multiplying and any difference it made would be miniscule. Gaining muscle is also actually generally a function of cells expanding rather than neurogenesis.

  16. Re:And that means? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

    Keep reading...

    Yet the cerebral cortex may be exempt from gender differences, as demonstrated by the fact that normal males and females perform comparably on intelligence tests.

    Oh!

    Currently the most popular theory is that males need larger brains because they have larger bodies and muscles, and thus need more neurons to control them.

    --
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