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Front Neuroanat December 2017 PMID 29311850

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.

Débora Jardim-Messeder, Kelly Lambert, Stephen Noctor, Fernanda M Pestana, Maria E de Castro Leal, Mads F Bertelsen, Abdulaziz N Alagaili, Osama B Mohammad, Paul R Manger, Suzana Herculano-Houzel

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Mentions

34
Peak: 3 in Dec 2017
across 6 sources since Dec 2017

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415,077
potential audience

Total likes

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Dec 2017 – Dec 2025

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect a moderate engagement with the article, highlighting that dogs possess the most neurons among large carnivorans despite not having the largest brains, conveyed through thoughtful comments on evolutionary trade-offs. The tone is analytical and curious, with some users referencing specific species like golden retrievers and comparing brain sizes among bears and lions to illustrate the findings.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the research findings, especially that dogs, like golden retrievers, have high neuron counts despite smaller brain sizes, showing general agreement.

InterestModerate interest

Participants show moderate interest, discussing the implications for understanding intelligence and evolution in carnivorans without excessive enthusiasm.

EngagementModerate engagement

The discussions involve some elaboration on the methods and comparisons, such as the connection between body mass and neuron number, indicating a moderate level of in-depth engagement.

ImpactNeutral impact

The influence appears limited to scientific curiosity and curiosity about animal intelligence, with occasional mentions of potential applications or further research, implying a moderate level of impact.

Abstract in brief

  • Dogs, particularly the golden retriever, have the most neurons in the cerebral cortex among large carnivorans, even more than bigger species like lions and bears.
  • Generally, the relationship between body size, brain size, and number of neurons follows similar patterns across carnivorans and other non-primate animals, but there are notable exceptions.
  • In large species like bears, despite having bigger brains, the number of neurons does not increase proportionally, meaning some animals can have larger brains but not necessarily more neurons.
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@summerhasfun · X

Frontiers | 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 https://t.co/6GWt0Mj6iS

May 29, 2025 · 78 followers View post →

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SUMMER TIME
@summerhasfun · X

Frontiers | 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 https://t.co/6GWt0Mj6iS

May 29, 2025 · 78 followers View post →
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