Effects of human–dog interactions on brain activation

Human-dog interaction brings meaningful emotional support and health advantages, highlighting its positive effects on human well-being. However, little is known about the brain activity during these interactions. This study investigated the effect of interacting with a dog on brain activity using electroencephalography. Results revealed that petting a dog and making eye contact stimulates higher brain activity in the beta and gamma frequency bands compared to touching a stuffed toy dog. The findings of this study indicate that interactions with a dog can improve attention and concentration. Our study is noteworthy for providing fundamental data to investigate human brain activity during interaction with dogs. Human-dog interactions can serve as beneficial interventions that lead to various physiological responses and emotional benefits. Based on these results, it would be meaningful to develop more structured animal-assisted interventions customized to improve attention.