A new study revealed that spending time with dogs increases brain activity. Amazingly, the study showed that even interacting with a stuffed animal can have positive effects on people’s brains. However, the study also proved that nothing replaces quality time with your dog.
Published in PLOS One, the study sought to further our understanding of human-animal relationships, and their related effects on our brains. Interestingly, the study revealed increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, associated with attention and decision-making. Additionally, the prefrontal cortex is a primary center of complex cognitive control, helping us form our personalities and perception.
Finally, the study also demonstrated that time with animals can increase endorphin and oxytocin, known as the “feel-good” chemicals. Conversely, the study’s subjects also presented lower levels of stress hormones. Surprisingly, scientists still don’t know where in our brains these chemicals get made.
Cuddling for Science
In the study, researchers at Basel University in Switzerland asked 21 subjects to undergo six sessions involving a real dog and a stuffed lion named Leo. All subjects had no history of dog phobia or allergies to dogs. The three lucky dogs included a Jack Russell Terrier, a Golden Retriever, and a Goldendoodle, according to PsyPost.
Each session was split into five phases. In the first phase, subjects stared at a blank wall for two minutes. Then, in phase two, subjects saw either the dog or Leo from a distance. Afterward, the animal would move closer to the subject, eventually getting close enough to touch. During phase four, subjects cuddled with either the dog or Leo. It’s important to note that to simulate body heat, Leo was stuffed with a hot water bottle. Finally, in phase five, subjects returned to staring at the wall.
The Link Between Dogs and Brain Activity
Throughout the sessions, researchers used near-infrared spectroscopy to measure their subjects’ brain activity. More precisely, the instruments measured the amount of oxygenated hemoglobin — a vital blood protein — traveling to various brain regions. Not surprisingly, the study showed that subjects were more attentive to the animals as they moved closer. Unfortunately, Leo didn’t produce as intense of a result as a live dog.
