Animal-assisted interventions like canine therapy are popular for stress and anxiety reduction.
However, the neurological impacts of varied dog encounters are unknown. A PLOS ONE study shows how spending time with dogs affects brain waves and mental well-being.
The findings reveal fascinating neuroscience underpinning human-dog relationships and their mental health advantages.
Onyoo Yoo from Konkuk University, South Korea, and colleagues studied 30 adults who did eight activities with a well-trained dog.
While dogs' sense of smell is remarkable, don't overlook their hearing! Dogs can hear many sounds humans can't due to their ears and muscles.
Brain alpha-band oscillations rose when individuals played with a hand-held toy with the dog, indicating calm wakefulness. Playing with dogs may help us relax and reduce stress.
Participants' brain alpha-band oscillations increased after walking the dog. This suggests that walking with a dog may improve mental health by promoting calm but alertness.