- Participants performed activities with a dog while their brain was monitored.
- Interacting with the dog increased relaxation, concentration and creativity.
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They are famous for their loyalty, camaraderie and ability to make us laugh.
And it turns out that spending quality time with man’s best friend also reduces stress and anxiety, according to a study.
Researchers have found that interacting with dogs generates electrical activity in the part of the brain associated with relaxation, concentration, creativity and attention.
The team, from Konkuk University in South Korea, recruited 30 adult participants for their study.
They were asked to do eight different activities with a well-trained four-year-old poodle, including playing with a handheld toy, giving her treats, and taking photos with her.
They are famous for their loyalty, camaraderie and ability to make us laugh. And it turns out that spending quality time with man’s best friend also reduces stress and anxiety, according to a study (file image)
The analysis revealed that the strength of alpha brain waves increased when the participants played with the dog and walked it, reflecting a state of relaxation.
Meanwhile, gently grooming or massaging the poodle produced an increase in beta brain waves, a boost typically linked to increased concentration.
Those who participated in the study also reported feeling significantly less fatigued, depressed, and stressed after all dog-related activities.
The team said that although “affection” for the animal may have played a role in generating these feelings, the findings add to evidence that dog therapy, often used in hospitals, schools and prisons, can help reduce anxiety and stress.
In an article in the journal Plos One, the authors said: “This study showed that specific dog activities could activate greater relaxation, emotional stability, attention, concentration and creativity by facilitating greater brain activity.”
The team, from Konkuk University in South Korea, recruited 30 adult participants for their study. They were asked to do eight different activities with a well-trained four-year-old poodle, including playing with a handheld toy, giving it treats, and taking photos with it.
Commenting on the study, Dr Jacqueline Boyd, senior lecturer in animal science at Nottingham Trent University, said: “The findings are unlikely to come as a surprise to canine carers.”
She said: “Having a quantitative measurement of brain activity in people during direct interactions of different types with dogs further increases our understanding of the relationship between humans and dogs.”
Dr. Boyd added that the recruitment of study participants was biased toward those who were already happy to interact with the dog, so “suggestions that all interactions with all dogs will benefit all people should be considered with caution.” caution”.
“The novelty of participating in a study with a friendly dog ​​should also be highlighted as a potential limitation of the data,” he said.
“However, reports of physiological responses measured during canine interactions suggest that there is some consistency in the biological basis of human-dog interactions that could be beneficial in therapeutic encounters.”