Psychology & Psychiatry

Petting dogs engages the social brain, according to neuroimaging

Researchers led by Rahel Marti at the University of Basel in Switzerland report that viewing, feeling, and touching real dogs leads to increasingly higher levels of activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. Published ...

Autism spectrum disorders

Therapy dogs aren't always the answer to help children with autism

Some children with autism spectrum disorder struggle with anxiety or have difficulty communicating in certain social situations. To help alleviate those struggles, researchers have studied various interventions, including ...

Neuroscience

Friend or foe? How mice decide to make love or war

Dog owners whose pets meet during a walk are familiar with the immediate sniffing investigation that typically ensues. Initially, the owners cannot tell whether their dogs will wind up fighting, playing, or trying to mount ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

Dog ownership and mental health—for better and worse

It is often believed that a close relationship between owners and their dogs can bring many mental health benefits to owners, but findings from a new study led by the University of Liverpool paint a more complicated picture.

Psychology & Psychiatry

How service dogs reduce PTSD symptoms: factors and mechanisms

A new analysis dives into the use of service dogs by U.S. veterans who have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), illuminating factors and mechanisms that may underlie the mental health effects of these relationships. Clare ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

'Dog people' may do better in lockdown

Researchers examining why dog owners living alone during COVID restrictions were less lonely think it may have to do with the type of person who owns dogs rather than having a dog itself.

Health

Pregnancy is no picnic when it comes to listeria

Food safety is important for everybody, but it is especially important if you're expecting. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can change a pregnant person's immune system, making her more susceptible to contracting foodborne ...

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