Dog owner good news: Petting your dog may lead to stronger memory and better problem solving skills
Fox News
A new study just published in open-access journal PLOS ONE indicates that petting a dog and interacting with a dog leads to increased brain activity — and may increase focus and attention.
Lead study author Rahel Marti, a Ph.D. student in clinical psychology and animal-assisted interventions at the University of Basel in Switzerland, told Fox News Digital in an interview that the findings imply that interacting with a dog "might activate more attentional processes and evoke stronger emotional arousal than similar nonliving stimuli." The study found that the effect of petting the dog lasted even after the dog was removed. "I think the study shows a lot of merits. And [it is] worth pursuing future investigation." Amy McGorry is a contributing health reporter for Fox News Digital. Follow her on Twitter @amymcgorry.
She said that "close and active physical contact with a familiar dog might promote social attention."