ScienceAugust 21, 2026
ectosylvian
EK-to-SIL-vee-un
Definition
Relating to the outer portion of the sylvian fissure, a prominent groove in the cerebral cortex of certain mammals, specifically used here to identify a distinct region of a dog's brain.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'ektos' (outside) and the Latin 'sylvian' (referring to the sylvian fissure, named after the 17th-century anatomist Franciscus Sylvius). It is a specialized anatomical term used to describe cortical areas.
In the news
The word identifies the specific brain region activated in dogs when they differentiate between human expressions of fear and anger. It highlights how researchers mapped complex canine neural responses to different emotional stimuli.
Dogs can distinguish between human fear and sadness – World‑first evidence
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