A human-like EEG signature of cognitive control in the domestic dog

In humans, theta (θ) band activity (defined as 4–8 or 5–7 Hz), measured over the frontal midline of the scalp, is an important EEG correlate of voluntary and conscious self-control. Theta waves recorded over the frontal lobes can therefore implicate neocortical control mechanisms. Other likely physiological markers include alpha and beta power, and more recently, a flattened 1/f slope. In the domestic dog, inhibitory self-control is extensively studied, but mostly through behavioural tests. Here, we present a first inquiry into possible EEG correlates of cognitive control in family dogs by comparing short (~ 30-second-long) EEG recordings from two conditions: passive wakefulness (baseline) versus a delayed gratification challenge (test). These conditions were recorded in a random sequence within the same session, under overall identical settings. In total, we collected 226 short recordings from fourteen dogs. We observed an increase in neural activity (test > baseline) that resembles human cognitive theta in frequency range (4–8 Hz) and which is similarly more pronounced over the frontal midline. Another important finding is a reduction in broadband power and the flattening of the spectrum, which implicates the work of fronto-parietal connections. While these markers do not differentiate between different facets of cognitive control, our capacity to measure them in awake dogs sets the stage for further EEG-based inquiries into canine cognition.