Eye Contact with Dogs May Sync Human Brain Waves

Recent research indicates that the brains of dogs and humans may synchronize when they look at each other, a phenomenon known as "neural coupling." Conducted by scientists in China, this study is the first to observe neural coupling between different species.

Neural coupling occurs when the brain activity of two individuals aligns during interactions, often seen in humans during conversations. While this has been documented among similar species like mice and primates, its occurrence between dogs and humans highlights the unique aspects of their relationship.

Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years and play significant roles in human society, from companionship to therapy and disease detection. Their ability to recognize and respond to human emotions is well established.

In the study, researchers used non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor brain activity in both dogs and humans. They assessed neural signals in various conditions: isolated, together without eye contact, and during direct interactions.

Findings revealed that when dogs and humans gazed at each other while the dogs were petted, their brain signals began to synchronize, particularly in areas linked to attention. Over five days, pairs that became more familiar exhibited increased synchronization of their neural signals.

The study also looked at the effects of genetic differences by including dogs with a mutation in the Shank3 gene, which affects attention-related neural connectivity. These dogs showed less synchronization with humans, likely due to impaired neural signaling.

Interestingly, administering a single dose of LSD to these dogs improved their attention and neural coupling with humans, though ethical concerns surround this treatment. Overall, the research underscores that gazing into a dog's eyes may strengthen the bond between species, suggesting that familiarity enhances this connection.