Gaby
A team of researchers from Nottingham Trent University in the UK has uncovered several benefits of spending time with dogs, primarily highlighting a reduction in stress and anxiety. And that’s just the beginning.
How the Study Was Conducted
Using electroencephalograms (EEG), the researchers measured the brain activity of 30 healthy individuals while they interacted with a dog. The participants included 15 men and 15 women aged 20 and older.
Volunteers engaged with a well-trained and friendly four-year-old poodle in various ways. They played, walked, and cuddled with the dog, as well as fed, groomed, massaged, and photographed him. Each interaction lasted about three minutes, as reported by the Independent.
The researchers noted that when participants played and walked with the dog, the EEG revealed alpha brain waves, indicating a state of relaxation. Meanwhile, grooming and massaging the poodle resulted in increased beta brain waves, which are associated with heightened concentration.
Conclusions Drawn by the Scientists
Overall, the experiment demonstrated that simple interactions with dogs—such as grooming, feeding, or playing—generate electrical activity in the brain that correlates with relaxation, reduced anxiety, creativity, and improved focus.
According to the scientists, participants reported feeling significantly less fatigued, depressed, and tense after their time with the dogs.
The team stated that while this outcome “may primarily be linked to a love for animals, it serves as further evidence that dogs can reduce levels of anxiety and stress.” This trait of our four-legged friends is effectively utilized in hospitals, schools, and correctional facilities.
“The study showed that different types of interaction with dogs activate significant relaxation, emotional stability, attentiveness, and creativity, while also promoting increased brain activity,” the researchers noted.
Commenting on the study’s findings, Dr. Jacqueline Boyd, a senior lecturer in animal science at Nottingham Trent University, remarked that these results “are unlikely to surprise those who care for dogs.”
However, she believes that measuring the brain activity of volunteers during their interactions with animals “further expands our understanding of the human-dog relationship.”
Dr. Boyd added that the team included participants who were eager to engage with the dog. Therefore, caution should be exercised regarding the conclusion that “any interaction with all dogs will benefit all people.”
At the same time, the data on the measured physiological responses of the brain may indicate that “there is some consistency in the biological basis of human-dog interaction that could be beneficial for therapeutic contacts.”
The results of the study were published in the journal PLOS One.
