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animal psychology

This shows a silver and white fox with a toy in his mouth

·June 14, 2021·3 min read

Breeding Foxes for Opposite Behaviors Produces Similar Brain Changes

Foxes bred to be either tame or aggressive had increased size in similar brain regions, a new study reports. The animals bred for specific behavioral traits had larger brains than those that were conventionally bred. The findings contradict existing theories of animal domestication.

Featured Psychology

·April 4, 2017·3 min read

Can People Identify a Cat’s Mood Through Its Facial Expressions?

A new study aims to find out if people can identify their cat's emotions through their facial expressions. The researchers hope their findings will help better manage the welfare and health of these popular pets.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·December 8, 2022·4 min read

Canine Brain Wiring Influenced by Human-Driven Breeding Practices

Areas of the genome associated with brain development harbor variants that seem to account for behavioral differences between dog breeds. The genomic differences between dog breeds are related to the development of their nervous systems. Researchers say genes associated with different dog lineages may relate to genes involved in the development of human behavior.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 25, 2022·4 min read

Cats Distinguish Between Speech Directed at Them and Humans

Cats alter their behavior when their owner speaks in a cat-directed tone toward them, but not when their owner talks to another human or when a stranger addresses them in a cat-directed tone. Evidence suggests cats are able to, and do form strong bonds with their owners.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 14, 2021·3 min read

Cats Prefer to Get Free Meals Rather Than Work for Them

Domestic cats choose not a contrafreeload, a behavior where most animals prefer to work for their food.

This shows the researcher and a very cute, black and white cat

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 23, 2019·4 min read

Cats, like children and dogs, develop attachments to their caregivers

Popular belief suggests cats are more independent and less likely to form close attachments with humans. However, a new study casts doubt on this myth. Researchers have found cats display the same main attachment styles to their owners as dogs, and babies to their parents.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 2, 2019·3 min read

Cats’ faces hard to read, except for ‘cat whisperers’

People can infer a cat's affective state from subtle aspects of their facial expressions.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·March 15, 2023·3 min read

Characterizing Abnormal Neural Networks in Dogs With Anxiety

Dogs with anxiety have stronger neural connections between the amygdala and other areas of the anxiety network in the brain compared to less anxious dogs.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 26, 2023·4 min read

Child’s Age and Pet Ownership Improve Recognition of Dog Emotions

The ability to correctly identify dog emotions from their facial expressions appears to be influenced by a person's age and prior experience with dogs. This research found that adults and 6-year-olds were more accurate in recognizing aggressive expressions in dogs than 4-year-olds, regardless of whether they had pet dogs.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 6, 2018·3 min read

Chimpanzee Personality Traits Linked to Their Brain Structure

Researchers report personality traits in chimpanzees are correlated to the size of their hippocampus. The study reports greater hippocampal volume is linked to an increase in alpha behavior and decreased self regulatory function.