Stroking dogs engages the part of the brain responsible for social interactions, study finds

We all love to have a cuddle with our furry friends, and now a new study has shed light on exactly why that is. Researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland compared brain scans of study participants while they were stroking a pooch and a cuddly toy. They found that viewing, feeling, and touching the dog engaged the part of the brain that regulates and processes social or emotional interactions - known as the prefrontal cortex - in a way that petting the cuddly toy didn't. It is hoped their findings will improve treatments in animal-assisted clinical therapy for patients who struggle with motivation and attention. 'Prefrontal brain activity in healthy subjects increased with a rise in interactional closeness with a dog or a plush animal, but especially in contact with the dog the activation is stronger,' the authors concluded.