A recent study from China has provided a surprising answer: the brains of humans and dogs can synchronize neural activity when they interact. This discovery not only sheds light on the neural connections between two different species but also opens new avenues for research into social disorders in humans, particularly Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
For many years, scientists have explored how humans synchronize brain activity when interacting with one another, such as during conversations, working together, or sharing common experiences. This phenomenon has been clearly observed in previous studies. However, finding synchronization between humans and another species represents a new breakthrough in the field of neuroscience.
The research team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, led by biologist Wei Ren, conducted experiments to measure the neural activity of both humans and dogs. By attaching electrodes to the skulls of both species, the team monitored changes in brain activity as the two interacted.
The experiment involved 10 Beagle dogs paired with unfamiliar participants, and both spent five days getting acquainted. After this period, the human-dog pairs engaged in nonverbal communication activities such as gazing at each other, petting, or simply sitting in the same room without any interaction.
The results showed that when humans and dogs looked into each other’s eyes, neural activity in the frontal and parietal regions of both became synchronized. This indicates that our brains can indeed connect and “communicate” with the brains of dogs through simple actions like eye contact. When humans pet their dogs, synchronization continues but is stronger in the parietal region, which is associated with attention and perception.
Our brains can indeed connect and “communicate” with the brains of dogs
A significant question arises: does this synchronization originate from the human brain or the dog’s brain? To address this question, researchers utilized a complex mathematical algorithm to analyze data from each interaction between human-dog pairs. The results indicated that it is the human brain that initiates this neural synchronization process. This means that when we look into our dog’s eyes and pet them, our brains activate corresponding neural activity, leading the dog’s brain to participate in this neural “bond.”
Interestingly, throughout the study, the synchronization between the two brains became stronger, demonstrating that when humans and dogs spend time interacting, their neural connection deepens. This not only confirms that the bond between humans and dogs is emotional but also supported by neural connections.
The neural connection between them deepens as humans and dogs spend more time interacting.
In addition to exploring the neural connection between humans and dogs, the study opens significant possibilities for researching social disorders, especially Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). One of the primary characteristics of ASD is reduced ability to interact and pay social attention, which may relate to decreased neural synchronization when interacting with others.
To further test this hypothesis, the research team conducted experiments with dogs exhibiting traits similar to ASD in humans. The experiments showed a significant reduction in synchronization between the brains of humans and dogs, corresponding with a decrease in attention and social connection. This reinforces the hypothesis that deficits in social cognition in individuals with ASD may be related to reduced neural synchronization with others.
The discovery of neural synchronization between humans and dogs holds important implications for understanding the bond between humans and pets and opens up new research potentials in psychology and neuroscience. It suggests that our brains can “communicate” with other species on a neural level, creating a form of non-verbal “language” between humans and animals.
Moreover, this research brings hope for developing diagnostic and treatment methods for social disorders such as ASD. Using dogs as models for studying neural synchronization may help us better understand how the brain functions in social relationships and how it is impaired in disorders like autism.
This study, published in the journal Advanced Science, represents not only a significant advance in neuroscience but also evidence that the special bond between humans and dogs can be much deeper than we previously thought. When we pet and gaze into our dog’s eyes, the brains of both species engage in a complex synchronization process, creating a powerful neural connection. This finding not only enhances our understanding of the relationship between humans and pets but also opens new research directions regarding social disorders and how to improve the quality of life for individuals with conditions like ASD.
