According to Psychology, Petting Dogs on the Street Has a Deeper Subconscious Meaning
When we see a cute dog on the street or in a park, many of us can't resist the urge to pet it and spend time with it. We generally believe that it calms us down and makes us happy. However, scientists have revealed that there is a much deeper and biological truth behind this.
A new study conducted by researchers led by Rahel Marti from the University of Basel in Switzerland, and published in the prestigious scientific journal PLOS ONE, has proven that merely observing a dog, feeling its presence, and touching it triggers a tremendous change in our brains.
Researchers delved into the brain activity of individuals while they interacted with dogs, harnessing the power of infrared neuroimaging technology.
The findings that have emerged are quite startling:
Engaging with a dog gradually increases the activity in the 'prefrontal cortex,' which is the most critical region of the brain that regulates and processes social and emotional interactions.
As the intimacy of interaction with the dog increases, there is a significant rise in the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin in the frontal lobe region.
Scientists have discovered that this positive brain activity induced by the dog continues for a while even after the dog has left the vicinity.
In the study, a brilliant control group was employed to discern whether this reaction was merely a reflex to touching something "furry and warm".
Participants were given the opportunity to pet a real dog, as well as a plush lion toy, which had been made to mimic the weight and body temperature of a real dog by inserting a hot water bottle inside it.
The results were clear: When participants interacted with the plush toy, there was a slight increase in brain activity. However, it was observed that each time a real dog was touched, the activity in the prefrontal brain exponentially increased, whereas this increase halted in subsequent interactions with the toy lion. The highest level of brain activity was measured during the moment of most intense contact, namely, the 'stroking' situation.
Why Opt for a Real Dog Over a Stuffed One?
According to scientists, this situation is related to the 'familiarity and social bond' mechanism our brain establishes with a living entity. Interacting with a real dog triggers much stronger attention processes in our brain compared to an inanimate stimulus, leading to deep emotional arousal.
It was already known that spending time with animals, especially our loyal friends, dogs, helps people cope with stress, anxiety, and depression. However, mapping the neurological process of this interaction opens a brand new door in the world of medicine.
Researchers anticipate that with the data obtained from these studies, clinicians will be able to design much more advanced 'animal-assisted clinical therapy' systems for the treatment of psychological disorders, socio-emotional deficiencies, and depression.
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