MRI scans reveal dogs can distinguish nuanced human emotions

New research published in the journal iScience indicates that dogs possess a more nuanced ability to interpret human emotions than previously understood. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers tracked brain activity in dogs as they viewed images of various human facial expressions.

The study, which involved collaborations between the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Eötvös Loránd University, and the University of Vienna, revealed that dogs can distinguish between different types of negative emotions, such as fear, anger, and sadness. This marks the first evidence that dogs can differentiate between similar facial expressions of negative affect.

In experiments involving pet dogs, happy facial expressions triggered responses in brain regions associated with rewards, such as the right temporal cluster and the caudate nucleus. This activation is similar to the brain response seen when dogs expect food or receive praise.