Dogs Increase Human Brain Activation

The benefits of interactions between humans and animals have captured the interest of researchers for years.  Animal-assisted interventions involve the use of animals to help people in settings such as schools, libraries, hospitals, assisted living facilities, courts, prisons, and trauma scenes.  Research has shown that interaction with a dog can reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones, while also increasing oxytocin and endorphins, neurotransmitters associated with affiliation and bonding.

A recent study investigated the impact of different forms of interaction with a dog on the prefrontal cortex of healthy study participants.  The prefrontal cortex is involved in social cognitive processing and understanding yourself and others. 

The study was conducted at the University of Basel in Switzerland.  The researchers used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure brain activity of 19 adults (9 women, average age 32 years) with no dog phobias or allergies, during 3 interactions with a dog and 3 interactions with a plush lion stuffed with a hot water bottle.  The therapy dogs, who all worked in hospital settings and were with their handlers, were a female Jack Russel (6 years), a female Golden Retriever (4 years), and a female Goldendoodle (4 years).  The fNIRS technology uses 2 sensors placed on the participant’s forehead, which allows researchers to mimic a clinic setting.

Researchers measured oxygen saturation in the prefrontal cortex of participants during five 2-minute phases, with short breaks in between phases, while they sat on a couch and:

1.      Looked at a white wall and relaxed (Neutral phase 1)

2.      Watched a dog or a plush from a distance (Watching)

3.      Had a dog laying next to them or the plush placed on their thigh (Feeling)

4.      Pet the dog or the plush (Petting)

5.      Looked at a white wall and relaxed (Neutral phase 2).

Researchers analyzed data from 53 dog conditions and 55 plush animal conditions.  They found:

  • Prefrontal activity in the brain increased with greater intensity of contact with both the dog and the plush.

  • Interaction with the dog resulted in significantly greater brain activation than interaction with the plush.

  • Each phase of interaction with the dog, which increasingly engaged more senses from Watching to Feeling to Petting, led to an increase in brain activation. 

  • The Petting condition resulted in the highest level of brain activation.

  • During the Neutral phase 2, after the dog interaction phases, the brain activation did not calm to the level of the Neutral phase 1.

The prefrontal cortex is involved in executive functions, such as attention, working memory, and problem-solving, as well as social and emotional processing.  Prior research has shown that interactions with animals are highly emotionally relevant for a majority of people.  Emotional salience, coupled with the gradual developing of a relationship with the therapy dog, may help to explain the greater brain activation with dog contact in this study.  This research indicates that interacting with therapy dogs may promote social attention, motivation, and emotional arousal in people, which could improve performance on learning and therapeutic goals.

Takeaway:  Interactions with dogs increase activation in the prefrontal cortex which is important to attention, motivation, problem-solving, and social and emotional processing.  Go hug your dog and fire up your brain.

Well-being is a journey, not a quick fix

Source

Rahel Marti, et al., Effects of Contact with a Dog on Prefrontal Brain Activity: A Controlled Trial, PLOS One, Oct 5, 2022, Effects of contact with a dog on prefrontal brain activity: A controlled trial | PLOS ONE.

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