Scientists have discovered something fascinating: petting your dog and looking into their eyes can actually sync your brain waves with theirs. This phenomenon, called interbrain activity coupling, has been documented in human interactions and among other species, but this research marks the first time it’s been observed between humans and dogs, as detailed in a recent study published in Advanced Science.
The study highlighted that the synchronization of brain activity happens in similar regions associated with attention, both in humans and dogs. This remarkable bond is likely rooted in our long history together—dogs have been companions to humans for over 30,000 years, evolving from wolves that adapted to human social structures.
According to the authors, dogs have an exceptional ability to interpret human emotions and respond to various signals, making the human-dog bond unique among domesticated animals. However, the specific brain mechanisms that facilitate this communication are not fully understood.
In earlier studies, interbrain coupling has been observed in social interactions among humans and other species like mice and bats. In this new study, researchers utilized wireless electroencephalograms to measure brain activity during human-dog interactions, such as gaze and petting, confirming that both species exhibit synchronized brain activity.
Interestingly, as dog-human relationships deepen over five days, this synchronization becomes stronger. The research showed that in these interactions, humans tend to lead while dogs follow. However, this interbrain coupling wasn’t present in dogs with a genetic mutation similar to autism in humans, indicating an impairment in attention and social interaction.
In a surprising twist, administering a small dose of LSD appeared to reverse these cognitive impairments in the affected dogs, hinting at potential social benefits from similar treatments in humans with autism. Yet, further research is necessary to fully understand this connection.
Reference
Ren, W., Yu, S., Guo, K., Lu, C., & Zhang, Y.Q. (2024). Disrupted Human-Dog Interbrain Neural Coupling in Autism-Associated Shank3 Mutant Dogs. Advanced Science. doi: 10.1002/advs.202402493