It’s no common knowledge that being around our companion animals makes us happy. Now, science has confirmed how petting our furry friends do have an effect on our brains.
New research shows that petting a dog “lights up” certain parts of the human brain that improves the mood of humans.
The brain divides a person’s feeling when the skin is being touched and those are: pleasant, neutral and unpleasant. Each of them is interpreted in different ways by the brain’s anterior cingulated cortex, which is responsible for a person’s emotional process.
For dog lovers, petting that furry companion allows the brain to release serotonin and dopamine, which are two feel-good chemicals that can improve the mood. Thos who suffer from depression often have very low levels of serotonin and dopamine, which is why having service animals can help improve a person’s symptoms.
It is also proven and tested by several schools that therapy dogs that visit schools often reduce the stress of students, those who grieve for the loss of a loved one, and that of the sick children in the hospital.
Cortisol, a hormone that can cause negative impacts on your body, is being released when a person’s stressed. Pet a dog once in a while, and they will surely reduce the levels of cortisol in your bloodstream!
Blood pressure and the chances of heart attack can also be reduced when you have a dog companion!
Related stories:
– Fur parents take more pictures of their dogs than their spouse, study says
– Millennials driven to buy a new house for their dogs, study shows
– Women sleep better with their animal companions in bed, new study shows
