Gaby
Researchers at Nottingham Trent University in the UK found that spending time with dogs lowers stress and anxiety — and that’s just the start.
How the Study Was Conducted
The researchers used electroencephalograms (EEG) to measure the brain activity of 30 healthy people while they interacted with a dog. The participants were 15 men and 15 women, all aged 20 or older.
Volunteers engaged with a well-trained, friendly four-year-old poodle in a variety of ways: they played with, walked, and cuddled the dog; they also fed, groomed, massaged, and photographed him. Each interaction lasted about three minutes, according to The Independent.
When participants played and walked with the dog, the EEG showed alpha waves, a pattern tied to relaxation. Grooming and massaging the poodle produced more beta waves, which the authors link to increased concentration.
What the study found
Overall, the experiment showed that simple interactions with dogs — grooming, feeding, or playing — generate brain electrical activity associated with relaxation, reduced anxiety, creativity, and improved focus.
Participants reported feeling significantly less fatigued, depressed, and tense after their time with the dog.
The team said the outcome may be driven in part by people’s love of animals, but the results still support the idea that dogs can reduce anxiety and stress. That benefit is already put to use in hospitals, schools, and correctional facilities.
The study found that different types of interaction with dogs trigger relaxation, emotional stability, attentiveness, and creativity while also boosting brain activity.
Commenting on the findings, Dr. Jacqueline Boyd, a senior lecturer in animal science at Nottingham Trent University, said the results ‘are unlikely to surprise those who care for dogs.’
She added that measuring volunteers’ brain activity during interactions with animals ‘further expands our understanding of the human-dog relationship.’
Dr. Boyd cautioned that the team recruited participants who were willing and eager to interact with the dog, so it’s not safe to assume that any interaction with any dog will benefit every person.
Still, the physiological brain data suggest there may be a consistent biological basis to human-dog interaction that could be useful in therapeutic settings.
The study was published in the journal PLOS One.
