We should smile at our dogs - a new scientific study reveals why
Summary
Scientists studied how dogs’ brains react when they see human faces with different emotions. They found that dogs’ reward brain areas activate when they see happy human faces, even if they do not know the person. Dogs can tell positive emotions apart from negative ones but not between different negative emotions.Key Facts
- Fourteen dogs were shown pictures of human faces while their brains were scanned.
- Happy, smiling faces triggered activity in a brain area linked to reward and motivation in dogs.
- This brain region in dogs is similar to the part that gives humans a “dopamine hit” from positive experiences.
- Dogs’ brains did not respond the same way to angry, fearful, or sad faces.
- Dogs can distinguish happy faces from all other emotions but cannot differentiate between different negative emotions.
- Researchers Laura Cuaya and Raúl Hernández-Pérez conducted the study at the University of Vienna.
- The research helps explain how thousands of years of living with humans have shaped dogs’ social brain abilities.
- The findings could help people communicate better with their dogs and improve their relationship.
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