University of Vienna Scans 12 Dogs, Finds Happy Human Faces Trigger Reward Centers
Updated
Updated · CNN · Aug 13
University of Vienna Scans 12 Dogs, Finds Happy Human Faces Trigger Reward Centers
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Aug 13
Summary
MRI scans of 12 dogs found human happy faces produced distinct brain activity, with a separate eight-dog experiment showing stronger responses in the temporal cortex and caudate nucleus than neutral faces.
University of Vienna researchers said the caudate finding was notable because that region is tied to reward processing, suggesting even strangers’ smiles may carry positive emotional meaning for dogs.
Machine-learning analysis showed dogs also distinguished angry, fearful and sad faces, but those negative expressions did not activate the same reward-linked pattern seen with happiness.
The study’s limits were substantial: the sample was small, most dogs were border collies, and all came from loving homes after special MRI training, which may not reflect other breeds or street dogs.
Researchers said dogs read more than still faces—also body language, voice and scent—and plan a more dog-centered approach to better understand cross-species emotional communication.