Human and dog brains can sync during social interactions: Study explains how
In the trial, researchers paired 10 young beagles with unfamiliar humans and allowed them to get to know each other over the next five days.
A new study by Chinese researchers has discovered evidence indicating the possibility of brain synchronization between humans and dogs, highlighting intriguing insights into how human and dog brains might align.
It suggests that if humans experience a strong connection while gazing into a dog’s large, expressive eyes, they might be experiencing brain synchronisation.
The study features the potential for deep neurological bonding between humans and dogs. While past research has shown that key brain regions synchronise when people interact or collaborate, this is the first time a similar connection has been observed between humans and dogs.
How was this sync discovered?
Researchers monitored the brain activity in both humans and dogs by placing electrodes on their skulls.
In the trial, researchers paired 10 young beagles with unfamiliar humans and allowed them to get to know each other over the next five days. During the experiments, these pairs engaged in nonverbal communication while staying in the same room without direct interactions.
Biologist Wei Ren and the study team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences observed a dramatic increase in inter-brain correlations in the frontal and parietal regions during gaze between humans and dogs.
The team observed patterns of synchronisation when human participants petted the dogs, with the strongest synchrony occurring in the parietal brain region.
In the study, researchers found that when humans looked into the eyes of dogs, there was a noticeable increase in brain activity between them. To analyse this, the team used a special mathematical algorithm to determine which brain was leading the rhythmic neural connection.
By assessing the data from each interaction, they discovered that it was the human brains that initiated the synchronised neural activity. Over the course of the study, the researchers observed growing brain synchronisation between the human-dog pairs, indicating a developing bond between them.
However, dogs with genetic mutations that mimic autism spectrum disorder (ASD) showed reduced brain synchronisation and less attention during interactions with humans. While a single dose of LSD reversed these issues.
Dr. Yong Q. Zhang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing explained, “The study suggests that disrupted brain synchronisation could serve as a biomarker for autism, and that LSD or its derivatives might help improve social symptoms associated with autism.
However, the study is small and further research is needed, these dogs could help scientists understand the brain mechanisms behind this synchronisation.
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