Your Brain On

Your Brain On... Having A Pet

Sep 25, 2024

Brian Hare, a Professor in Evolutionary Anthropology and author of 'The Genius of Dogs', and Gregory Berns, a Professor of Psychology and neuroeconomics expert, dive into the fascinating bond between humans and their pets. They discuss how oxytocin reveals dogs’ love for us and how our companionship alters their brains. The conversation touches on the emotional healing power of pets, the complexities of dog cognition, and the implications of research on the human-animal relationship. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for empathy and ethical treatment.

55:45

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Episode guests

Brian Hare

Gregory Berns

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The emotional journey of adopting a dog named Hope illustrates how companionship can facilitate healing after experiencing grief from a pet's loss.

Research on oxytocin highlights the mutual benefits of pet ownership, fostering trust, empathy, and promoting overall mental health in both humans and animals.

Insights from Dr. Brian Hare reveal that while dogs have unique cognitive strengths, their intelligence should not be directly compared to human capabilities.

Deep dives

The Story of Hope's Adoption

The episode shares a heartfelt story about the adoption of a dog named Hope, illustrating the emotional journey of the family as they transitioned from mourning the loss of their previous pet, Obi. The situation was tense and somber, marked by Obi's declining health after chemotherapy, which deepened the family's grief. During a routine school drop-off, a chance encounter on the road gave rise to a dramatic rescue of a frightened, stray puppy, showcasing the bravery and determination of the family in saving her. This impulsive decision to bring Hope into their lives served as a timely distraction from their sorrow and ultimately became a source of comfort and healing.

Intro

3min

A Heartwarming Rescue: The Story of Hope

2min

The Healing Power of Pets: Science and Emotion

17min

Bonding Through Domestication

9min

Decoding Dog Behavior through Technology

4min

The Evolution of Human-Dog Relationships

2min

Human and Animal Brain Connections

20min

What are our animal companions thinking? And how does our friendship with them change their brains, and our brains?

We all wish we could communicate with our pets. Though we may never share a language, modern neuroscience has enabled us to ethically understand the cognitive anatomy and emotional signals of other animals like never before.

In this episode of ‘Your Brain On...’, we discuss what we’ve learned so far, including:

• The neurological phenomena that leads to domestication and, in turn, animal companionship

• How oxytocin studies have signified that, yes, our dogs do love us back

• The research that has shown how some companions might value social rewards from humans just as much as they value the food we provide for them

• The differences (and similarities) between canine brains and human brains

• How dogs do understand us to a degree, but not quite in the linguistic sense we might like to believe

• The incredible things dogs can do for dementia patients

• The importance of ethics in animal research

• Why understanding the emotional capacity of other animals is vital

Our guests for this episode are two of the foremost voices in animal cognition:

BRIAN HARE: Professor in Evolutionary Anthropology, Psychology, and Neuroscience at Duke University, and a core member of their Center of Cognitive Neuroscience. Plus: co-author of ‘The Genius of Dogs’ and ‘Survival of the Friendliest’.

GREGORY BERNS: Professor of Psychology and Distinguished Professor of Neuroeconomics, researcher of dogs (and more recently, cows), and author of ‘How Dogs Love Us’ and ‘Cowpuppy: An Unexpected Friendship and a Scientist’s Journey into the Secret World of Cows’.

‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

Drs. Ayesha and Dean are now welcoming patients via the Brain Health Institute: https://brainhealthinstitute.com/

‘Your Brain On... Having A Pet’ • SEASON 3 • EPISODE 8

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LINKS

Brian Hare:

Brian Hare’s website: https://brianhare.net/

The Hare Lab at Duke University: https://evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/hare-lab

Brian’s book, ‘Survival of the Friendliest’: https://a.co/d/2mNhSE1

Gregory Berns:

Gregory Berns’ website: http://gregoryberns.com/

Gregory’s book, ‘Cowpuppy’: https://a.co/d/0gpJYQx