Petting dogs makes people more sociable.
Petting dogs makes people more sociable
New findings have revealed that watching, feeling and touching pooches boosts neurons in the area of the brain that regulates emotional interactions in a way that petting a cuddly toy couldn't.
It is hoped that the research conducted at the University of Basel in Switzerland can improve treatments in animal-assisted clinical therapy for human beings.
Researcher Rahel Marti said: "They are clinically relevant for patients with defects in motivation, attention and socio-emotional functioning.
"Integrating animals into therapeutic interventions might therefore be a promising approach for improving emotional involvement and attention."
Meanwhile, another study has shown that pets were a huge benefit for people's mental health during the coronavirus pandemic.
A survey conducted by the University of York found that almost 90 per cent of owners said that their animals had helped them cope better emotionally during the lockdown.