Dogs can distinguish between fearful and angry or sad human faces, brain scans suggest
Researchers have discovered that dogs can distinguish between different negative human facial expressions, such as anger and sadness, using MRI brain scans. This study suggests that dogs possess a more nuanced understanding of human emotions than previously understood.
Why it matters
Understanding canine cognition deepens our knowledge of human-animal bonds and the evolutionary development of social intelligence in domestic pets.
The researchers worked with pet dogs, mostly border collies, that had been trained to lie still in an MRI scanner. Photograph: Laura V Cuaya The researchers worked with pet dogs, mostly border collies, that had been trained to lie still in an MRI scanner. Photograph: Laura V Cuaya Animals Dogs can distinguish between fearful and angry or sad human faces, brain scans suggest Researchers analysed activity in regions of brain when dogs were shown images of different facial expressions
Prefer the Guardian on Google While dogs are known to turn the puppy eyes on their owners , it seems our pets are keeping a close eye on us too: research has revealed dog brains can distinguish different types of unhappy human faces.
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