fMRI study reveals dogs do not have a specific face area similar to that of primates. Dogs' brain activity showed little response to faces but increased in response to seeing another dog over a human.
Stray, untrained dogs respond to gestures given by humans. The findings suggest that dog/human understanding may transcend learning.
Exposure to household pet dogs in the early years of life was associated with a significantly decreased risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia later in life.
fMRI neuroimaging reveals the parietotemporal cortex of dogs responds to numeric concepts. The study provides evidence that numerosity is a shared evolutionary neural mechanism.
The human ability to recognize the facial expressions of dogs is acquired through age and experience and is not an evolutionarily selected trait.
Evidence suggests new dog owners experience a reduction in negative mood and feelings of loneliness.
Owning a dog was associated with a 33% lower risk of death for heart attack survivors who lived alone, and a 27% reduced risk for those who suffered a stroke, compared to those who did not own a pet. Additionally, dog ownership was linked to a 24% reduced risk of all-cause mortality and a 31% reduced risk of death by heart attack or stroke.
Selective breeding has altered brain anatomy in dogs. Neuroimaging of 33 dog breeds revealed brain structures varied across breeds, and the variations are associated with specific behaviors.
Those who own dogs may have a boost when it comes to cardiovascular health. Researchers found pet owners report better physical wellbeing than those who don't own a pet. Dog owners had a significant improvement in cardiovascular health, physical fitness, and diet over owners of other types of pets.
Cortisol levels associated with stress are reduced after interacting with cats and dogs, researchers report.
Findings could help animal shelters to improve the pet adoption process and find the perfect pet partner for people.
Researchers identify an interspecies correlation between hair cortisol concentrations in humans and dogs during summer and winter months. The cortisol levels were not affected by the amount of activity the dog had during these periods. The study reveals a seasonal effect in higher cortisol levels between humans and animals, and human personality traits significantly affected the dog's level of stress. Findings suggest that dogs often mirror the stress levels of their owners.
