ABSTRACT
Olfaction is believed to be dogs’ most crucial sensory domain and, as a consequence, a fundamental starting point for the study of both social cognition and brain functions. Although the olfactory system is relevant for canine social life, apart from different works at genetic (Issel-Tarver and Rine 1996; Tacher et al. 2005; Robin et al. 2009), behavioral (Sommerville et al. 1993; Wells and Hepper 2003; Pickel et al. 2004), and cellular levels (Prince 1978; Nadi et al. 1980; Overall and Arnold 2007), at present, few studies have focused on the cognitive level. This is unfortunate since dog behavior is driven by olfactory information integrated and elaborated in neocortical areas (higher cognitive levels) rather than by raw olfactory stimulation in the olfactory bulb (i.e., electrophysiological responses from the olfactory epithelium receptors to different odorant mixtures).
