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Emotional bond between humans and dogs measured for the first time

If we spend time together with our dog, this can be measured by the heartbeat, a study has shown
If we spend time together with our dog, this can be measured by the heartbeat, a study has shown Photo: Getty Images

November 22, 2024, 6:17 am | Read time: 5 minutes

Spending time together with our dog creates a feeling of connection. This can even be measured scientifically – by the heart. This was the result of a study from Finland, in which researchers investigated how emotional closeness to our dogs affects the heart rate.

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When we form a close bond with someone, we often find ourselves in sync with that person. Research has demonstrated that this synchronization occurs on multiple levels. This adaptation extends beyond behavior to include physiological measures like heart rate. In research, this effect is called “emotional co-modulation.” Researchers from Finland have now demonstrated that this phenomenon also occurs between humans and their dogs. Their findings indicate that our heart rate variability aligns with that of our canine companions during shared activities. The results were published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The heart rate of dogs can provide information about bonding

Until now, scientists have mainly investigated how the behavior and hormones of dogs and humans synchronize when they engage in joint activities. However, the synchronization of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is also a crucial indicator of emotional bonding. The ANS regulates involuntary bodily functions like heartbeat, breathing, and digestion.

Research on human bonding has shown that such synchronicity, for instance, occurs between a mother and her child. But how is this measured? A key parameter for this measurement is known as heart rate variability (HRV). HRV refers to the fluctuations in heart rate from one beat to the next over a specific time frame. The autonomic nervous system controls this variability. 1

Does HRV synchronize during joint activities?

Similarly, heart rate measurements are possible in dogs. This variability is influenced by factors including activity levels and emotional states. The researchers hypothesized that heart rate variability in dogs and humans would synchronize when they share the same emotional state. For instance, this might occur during playtime or while cuddling.

Their study aimed to answer the following questions:

  1. Does the heart rate variability between humans and dogs equalize during social interactions?
  2. Does the type of activity (such as stroking, playing, cuddling) affect this synchronization?
  3. How do different dog breeds influence heart rate adaptation?

The study focused particularly on collies and retrievers

To investigate this, 25 dog-human teams were cast and examined for the study. These included a total of 13 different breeds, all of which were either herding and driving dogs or retrieving, rummaging, and water dogs. To minimize heart rate fluctuations due to body size, only medium-sized dogs (between 22 and 66 pounds) were included in the study.

In each experiment, the experimenters brought a dog-human team into a room and provided them with instructions. Each session began with a resting phase. Subsequently, owners engaged in various interactions with their dogs, including stroking and playing.

Heart rate variability synchronizes in humans and dogs

“We measured the HRV and activity data of the dogs and their owners throughout the study and collected detailed information about the test subjects using several questionnaires,” the researchers explained in their study the structure of the experiment. The study revealed that the heart rate variability of dogs and humans does indeed align, a phenomenon the researchers refer to as ‘co-modulation.’

However, HRV changes not only during emotional events but also during reduced or increased activity. Could this effect simply result from increased movement when owners and dogs play together? The scientists ruled out this possibility. Although the HRV demonstrated a strong correlation, the activity levels measured by the researchers exhibited only a moderate correlation. This suggested the presence of another influencing factor.

There was no co-modulation during training

The results, therefore, indicate an emotional co-regulation of the HRV of dogs and owners that goes beyond their correlations due to synchronized physical activity, the researchers conclude. This suggests that the heart rates of dogs and humans align due to shared intense emotions like joy.

This theory is also confirmed by two other exciting observations. Not all teams exhibited co-modulation of HRV during the ‘petting’ activity. Some dogs did not enjoy this interaction and thus had different responses than their owners.

Additionally, the effect appeared weaker during joint training sessions and while sniffing for treats. The researchers speculate that in these scenarios, humans and dogs may be in different emotional states. In these tasks, it is possible that the dogs were primarily focused on obtaining treats, whereas the owners were more intent on issuing commands during training.

More on the topic

Attachment to the dog is controlled similarly to attachment to other people

Overall, the results indicated that heart rate variability in dogs and humans aligns during their interactions. This results in emotional co-modulation, similar to what is observed in human-to-human bonds. ‘We conclude that the physiological and emotional mechanisms that strengthen human bonds also underpin the emotional relationship between humans and dogs,’ the researchers state in their conclusion.

This is the first study to investigate factors like heart rate variability in dogs. However, the study selected only breeds known for their high capacity for cooperation. This included breeds such as the Border Collie and the Labrador Retriever. The researchers suggest that future research should also include ancient breeds in similar settings. Only through such studies can we determine if co-modulation of excitement and activity levels occurs in other dog breeds and their owners.

Additionally, future studies should consider the dogs’ characteristics through personality or cognitive assessments. Indeed, these factors can significantly influence the dog-human relationship.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of PETBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@petbook.de.

Topics #platinum News News from science and research

Sources

  1. aerzteblatt.de, "New methods in cardiac function diagnostics - heart rate variability" (accessed on 21.11.2024) ↩︎
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