You may be onto something if your go-to method for unwinding is playing with dogs or watching their funny videos on social media.
According to a tiny study published on Wednesday in the journal PLOS One, people's brain waves linked to rest and relaxation, as determined by brain tests, may be strengthened by interacting with dogs in this way. You may like to see 30 Heartwarming Pictures of Joyful Adopted Pets here.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the psychological, physiological, and cognitive advantages of interacting with animals, particularly dogs. These benefits include greater energy, heightened feelings of well-being, and a decreased risk of memory loss.
The study's authors explained that this is the reason why the usage of animal-assisted health solutions is growing across a range of industries.
A recent study suggests that playing with your dog could be beneficial for both your emotional well-being and that of your pet.
Before and after spending time with a dog, studies frequently used "a holistic approach, comparing people's mood or hormone levels," according to the study's first author, Onyoo Yoo, a doctoral candidate in the bio and healing convergence department at Konkuk University's graduate school in Seoul, who sent an email.
In this new study, Yoo and colleagues used both objective brain activity monitoring and subjective emotion questionnaires to investigate the effects of particular activities on mood, as opposed to merely general dog interaction.
In May and June of 2022, thirty healthy persons, average age of about 28 years, were enlisted from pet stores and a dog grooming school in Seongnam, South Korea, for the study.
Each participant completed eight exercises with the lead author of the study's 4-year-old, well-trained female standard poodle in a dull, peaceful room at a nearby grooming facility. Meeting, interacting with, feeding, massaging, grooming, taking pictures, giving hugs, and walking the dog were among the activities.
To reduce any stimulus that might skew the results, participants sat and stared at the wall for three minutes before activities started. Using electroencephalograms, or EEGs, the scientists recorded the subjects' brain waves for three minutes during each task. You may like to read How To Training Your Pet For Effective Their Teeth Brushing here.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a non-invasive test that uses tiny metal discs called electrodes that are applied to the scalp to assess electrical activity in the brain.
According to Yoo, these exams offer "rapid and precise insights into unconscious processes that self-disclosure may not uncover."
The authors allowed participants to complete questionnaires about their emotional states for a few minutes following each task. The entire procedure took about sixty minutes.
The participants' brain waves changed in different ways during different tasks. The alpha-band oscillations, which often denote stability and relaxation, were shown to be stronger when playing and strolling with a dog.
According to the study, alpha wave activity has been connected to enhanced memory and decreased mental stress.
Strengthened beta-band oscillation, which is connected to increased focus and attention, has been observed when the dog is being groomed, played with, and given gentle massages. Following their interactions with the poodle, the participants also reported feeling noticeably less anxious, worn out, and depressed.
Dr Colleen Dell, a professor and research chair in One Health & Wellness at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, said via email that "it is super exciting" that the new study provides more insight into exactly how the known benefits may be occurring, since much of the research in this field has been anecdotal or subjective, though not surprising.
"It's crucial to investigate this field using a variety of methods, including subjective scales and EEG," stated Dell, who did not participate in the study. The impact of interactions with dogs on the brain.
“Their fondness for animals likely motivated their willingness to participate in the experiment, potentially biassing the results,” Yoo said, even though not all of the participants owned pets. "Those who enjoy spending time with animals may find great benefits from animal-assisted therapy."
Dr. Tiffany Braley, the Holtom-Garrett Family Professor of Neurology at the University of Michigan, who was not involved in the study, stated that "this study was not designed to determine what mechanisms might link pet interactions to the observed changes in brain activity."
However, according to Braley's email, "emotional or social bonding with animals could affect activity in this region because the prefrontal cortex, one of the regions examined in this study, is thought to be involved in emotional and social processing." "In addition, earlier research has indicated that oxytocin elevations and decreased cortisol levels may contribute to physiological alterations linked to human-animal interactions."
Experts noted that the study did have certain limitations, including a small sample size and the absence of people with neurological, medical, or behavioural disorders, which would have made them more eligible for these kinds of therapies, according to Braley.
Furthermore, there was no control group in the study to determine if the same interventions would be beneficial if they were performed on people rather than dogs.
Future research is necessary to verify the veracity of these findings, according to Yoo.
Using research on dogs in your daily life.
If you already own a dog, there's more evidence to promote relationships with your pet, experts added, though further research are needed.
According to Dell, your dog probably enjoys the majority of these activities, but be mindful of their dislikes as well. For example, some dogs may not love being cuddled.
Considerations for adopting a dog should include a number of factors. At the very least, you would need more cash for pet supplies, veterinary care, toys, food, and pet sitting—all of which can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year.
Any new pet, regardless of age, must be adjusted to a new environment and trained if it is an adopted puppy. And then there's the regular quality time a dog need.
Try playing with a loved one's pet or going to a local shelter or pet shop where you can play with the dogs even if you're not planning to adopt them if you're not ready for a pet but still want to reap the benefits for your mental well-being.
It's especially advised to do this in areas where there are lots of puppies because the extra time spent together helps socialise them.
As per Dell, it is imperative to acknowledge the welfare of the dog, "since the dog cannot fully participate in the intervention if they are not healthy and happy."
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Written By HowNHowTo.Com Team