Fascinating Study Suggests that Petting Dogs Could Engage Social Brain

Dogs are part of human lives being a man's best friend. New research revealed that petting dogs have beneficial benefits to engaging the social brain.

They are partners. They are treated like a family member in a house. The presence of a dog adds color and happiness to owners, showing unconditional love.

The research led by Rachel Marti at the University of Basel in Switzerland revealed that human interaction with dogs, from feeling and touching, helps to increase the levels of activity in the brain's prefrontal cortex.

According to the study, the effect on the prefrontal activity levels persists or still occurs despite the dog being no longer present. PLOS One published the study on October 5, 2022, and is available in ScienceDaily.

The researchers' idea was inspired to help clinicians design an effective animal-assisted therapy for humans, in which the part of the prefrontal cortex is helpful for emotional and social interactions.

Having a dog has many benefits. They are social animals helping their owners to cope with stress and depression. Walking your dogs increase physical activity or makes you also active.

The study process

Infrared neuroimaging technology helped the researchers to check on the activity happening in the brain's prefrontal cortex.

The researchers had a real dog and a stuffed toy Leo Lion. The stuffed toy appeared like a dog as the researchers assured it matched the dogs' temperature and weight.

The same process happened to the real dog and stuffed Leo, which researchers instructed the 19 men and women to view, pet, and recline with the dogs.

The fascinating results revealed greater activity in the prefrontal brain when interacting with the real dog. Ultimately, petting the real dog showed the most interactive condition result. On the other hand, the findings from the real dog interaction did not show in the stuffed lions.

The research explained that the findings remarked that interactions with real dogs trigger more social and emotional results than interacting with non-living objects. As mentioned, the research findings can contribute to studies of the animal-assisted therapy process.

Furthermore, the researchers suggested the importance of future studies in helping unveil and examine how petting animals could help the prefrontal activity in patients.

How to take care of your dogs

Dogs have good and healthy benefits for human health, from the comfort presence they share and unconditional love with their owners. With many advantages, taking care of your dogs as owners is important.

According to the Animal Foundation website, taking care of dogs means responsible ownership.

• Have your dogs in a comfortable and safe shelter with 24/7 availability of drinking water.
• Pet owners should meet the nutritional needs of dogs.
• Maintain regular exercise for your dogs and regular bath.
• Schedule visits to your vet.
• Avoid giving your dogs treats that are harmful to their health, including chocolates, avocados, macadamia nuts, alcohol, and raisins.

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