Scientists discover dogs can distinguish human emotions via brain scans

New research published in the journal iScience reveals that dogs possess the biological capability to distinguish between various human facial expressions. Using fMRI brain scanning, scientists observed how dogs process emotions such as happiness, anger, sadness, and fear.

Researchers found that happy human faces specifically activate the temporal cortex and the caudate nucleus in a dog's brain—areas associated with higher cognitive functions and reward processing. While dogs react to negative emotions, their brain activity patterns for anger, fear, and sadness differ significantly from their response to happiness.

The study, involving researchers from the University of Vienna and the National Autonomous University of Mexico, suggests that these abilities are an evolutionary adaptation. Unlike primates who share common ancestors with humans, dogs developed these social and emotional skills through the process of domestication to better cooperate and understand humans.