Scientist have begun to research if dogs and their owners’ brainwaves synchronise in a similar way to parents and their babies – could this explain why they are ‘man’s best friend’?
Scientists at Cambridge University are currently taking part in a study to find out if dogs and their owner’s brains are on the same wavelength. 40 dogs ranging from newfoundland’s to Tiberian terriers will be taking part in the study to see if their brainwaves synchronise with their owners when the pair interact.
Dr Valdas Noreeika, of Queen Mary University, said she got the idea for the study from working on similar experiments where synchronisation was seen between mothers and babies. “Owners modulate their language in a similar way as parents modulate when they speak to children,” she said.
“There’s lots of similarities. That could be one of the reasons why we get so attached to dogs – because we already have these cognitive functions and capacities to attach with someone who is smaller or requires help or attention.”
The study will make use of electromyogram (EEG) recordings – a non-invasive and painless headwear technique that has also been used on both parents and babies.
This will enable researchers to look for specific markers that are unlikely to arise from muscle activity – like alpha brainwaves that occur when relaxed.
The idea is that brainwave synchronisation should increase or decrease as attention is directed towards and away from the animal. The study will have the dog’s owners switch their attention from the dog, speak to other people, look at their phone and record changes in brainwaves.
Dr Colleen Dell of the University of Saskatchewan, who was not in the study, said: “If results are positive – showing there is brainwave synchronisation between dogs and humans – it puts the possibilities of interspecies communication on the table too.”
A study published in China, in September of last year, suggested that brainwave synchronisation occurred between humans and dogs, however, the study did not have the dogs participate with their owners.
The study faced increased criticism after researchers attempted to give LSD to dogs with mutations they claimed were associated with autism-like traits.
Dr Eleanor Raffan, a member of the Cambridge team, cautioned against making assumptions and superimposing human ways of thinking onto our pets. Despite this she said: “I think what would be lovely would be to prove that there was a connection. ”