Your dog looks at you – and something amazing happens in its brain

A new neuroscience study reveals that dogs can decode human emotions on a deep level. Researchers found that happy faces activate reward areas in a dog's brain, while negative emotions are accurately perceived. The study was published in the journal iScience and tested 14 dogs.

A new neuroscience study reveals that dogs can decode human emotions on a deep level. Researchers discovered that happy faces activate reward areas in a dog's brain, while negative emotions are accurately picked up by their emotional radar. The study, published in the journal iScience, examined recordings of brain activity in 14 Border Collies and Golden Retrievers. Its findings show that dogs' brains exhibit different activity patterns in response to various emotional expressions, including fear, anger, or sadness. However, the dogs tested came from warm and loving homes, so their ability to interpret signals may differ from that of street dogs. Researcher Laura Cuaya notes that recognizing dogs' emotional capacity could change how we communicate with and care for them.