Do Our Canine Companions Love Us (As Much As We Love Them?)
Scientists studying the brains of our canine companions have found that not only do dogs seem to love us back, they actually see us as their family. It turns out that dogs rely on humans more than they do their own kind for affection, comfort, protection and everything in between!
In order to understand the canine brain, researchers conducted an neuroimaging study about odor processing in the dog brain. Animal cognition scientists at Emory University trained dogs to lie still in an MRI machine and used fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) to measure the neural responses that dogs had to the smell of people and other dogs. In order to measure the responses and extract information from the data, the scientists used dogs and people that were both familiar and unknown to the animal in question. This method is effective because dogs navigate the world through their noses. As a result, the way that they process smell offers a lot of potential insight into social behavior.
What the scientists found is that the dog owners’ scent activated the “reward center” of the dogs’ brains, called the “caudate nucleus.” In fact, as it turns out, of all the smells that dogs take in, they prioritized the smell of humans over anything or anyone else.
Lori Palley, DVM, of the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Comparative Medicine and co-lead author of a report titled, "Patterns of Brain Activation when Mothers View Their Own Child and Dog: An fMRI Study" said, “Several previous studies have found that levels of neurohormones like oxytocin — which is involved in pair-bonding and maternal attachment — rise after interaction with pets, and new brain imaging technologies are helping us begin to understand the neurobiological basis of the relationship, which is exciting."
In addition to these findings, studies with other canine neuroimaging research indicate that there are some notable similarities in the way dog and human brains process emotionally laden vocal sounds. Researchers in Budapest at Eotvos Lorand University found that happy sounds light up the auditory cortex in both species. This commonality speaks to the uniquely strong communication system underlying the dog-human bond.
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Do Our Cats Love Us?
Cats are very subtle animals. But this does not necessarily mean they don't love their owners or never show it. According to Jessica Pierce Ph.D.'s article on Psychology Today, there are many different ways they show how much they love their owners.
So, what are the different ways cats show affection?
1. Cheek rub. Cats will greet those they trust and feel safe around by rubbing their cheeks on them.
2. Grooming you. Cat grooming is not just reserved for themselves or other cats they feel comfortable around, it also applies to you! Your cat will lick you to show their affection by mingling their scent with yours. This behavior helps them feel relaxed, shows trust and also builds a community scent that is important to recognize in their family and humans.
3. Slowly blinking at you. Have you ever noticed your cat just sitting there, slowly blinking at you? This is a good indicator that your cat trusts you and enjoys your company. This is called cat kisses and can also be reciprocated.
4. Showing their belly to you. When your cat does this, they are simply showing you they are happy to see you. It also is a way of saying to you, "I trust you," because they feel safe and comfortable around you.
5. Purring. This is one of the most obvious and common ways your cat to express his love and affection. Cats have this little motor inside their throat, which starts to vibrate when they are feeling relaxed or enjoying something — for example, when you are stroking them, especially in areas they love (behind the ear, under this chin). (It should be noted that purring could also mean your cat is in pain. It is important to recognize the difference, although it should be obvious when your cat is purring due to you stroking and petting them).
6. Head bunting. Head bunting is when your cat bops their head against yours. It's a way for your cat to demonstrate the affection and trust they has for you. They're also marking you as her territory, so this means you belong to them.
It's also important to show your cat that you love them too! The question is ... how do we do that? Well, Dr. Pierce has some ideas for you!
1. Slowly blink at your cat. Just as cats say "I love you" by blinking their eyes slowly at us, we can do the same back and tell them we love them by slowly blinking at them.
2. Groom your cat. Spend some time with your cat and brush their fur. They would appreciate it (even though they spend much of their time grooming themselves already).
3. Spend time with your cat. To show your cat how much you love them, spend some quality time with them. Grab a toy and let your cat chase it around or spend some time snuggling and petting their fur.