Recent research from China has shown that dogs and humans experience “neural coupling”, meaning their brain activities can sync when they gaze into each other’s eyes. This phenomenon, previously only observed within the same species, reveals a deeper connection between humans and dogs, one that could socially enhance skills such as teamwork. In the study, researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure the brain activity of both humans and beagles. They found that when dogs and humans looked at and interacted with each other, their brain signals aligned, especially in areas related to attention. Familiarity between the two increased this synchronisation. The study also examined the effects of a genetic mutation (Shank3) in some dogs that impaired their neural connectivity, resulting in less synchronisation with humans. Interestingly, administering a single dose of LSD (one of the most powerful known psychedelic substances) to these dogs restored their neural coupling, highlighting the drug’s potential. Beyond eye contact, a recent study revealed that dogs absorb the same chemicals as humans in domestic environments, suggesting they could act as "early warning systems" for toxic exposure. Conducted by scientists in North Carolina, the study used silicone wristbands and collars to measure chemical load in 30 dog–owner pairs, revealing significant similarities in pollutant levels, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Catherine Wise, one of the researchers, noted that dogs could show adverse effects of chemical exposure before humans, providing valuable insights for human health. The research was mainly carried out during the pandemic, when people spent more time with their pets. Matthew Breen highlighted that dogs suffer from cancers very similar to those of humans, suggesting that shared environmental chemicals may affect both, particularly bladder cancer, which is already linked to herbicide use. Another study showed that dogs can “catch” their owners’ stress, saffecting their well-being. Despite having been human companions for millennia, dogs still face stressors such as vet visits. A study by Queen’s University Belfast revealed that owner stress, measured via heart rate, can influence their dogs’ stress levels. During the experiment, owners were subjected to stressful or relaxing situations, and results showed dogs responded to their owners’ stress changes through a phenomenon known as “emotional contagion”. This suggests that veterinarians should consider the owner’s well-being to improve the dog’s experience during visits. Dogs can even be affected by the stress of strangers.
By Lorenzo Gesualdo and Matteo Maestri, Istituto Tecnico Ettore Conti, 4LF, Milan
