Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/petting-dogs-brain-health/

It’s no secret that dogs bring a lot of value to our lives. They’re man’s best friend, after all.

But new research suggests being close with dogs may actually be more beneficial than we once thought. In fact, a new study published in the journal Plus One suggests that petting dogs may be good for our brains!

We know in our hearts that petting dogs brings us a lot of joy and perhaps a boost in mood, but now there’s research to back it up!

The study, “Effects of contact with a dog on prefrontal brain activity: A controlled trial,” utilized brain scanners on people who were petting dogs.

The catch? Some of the participants were scanned while petting stuffed animals while others were scanned while petting real dogs.

According to the study results, petting real dogs appeared to boost brain activity. It specifically affected the frontal cortex, the part of the brain that impacts how we think and feel.

Some people don’t need studies to tell them what they already know, that petting dogs is good for us, but it’s nice to have the notion solidified with science!

Check out the clip below:

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It’s just another reason to love dogs.

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog