MRI study shows dogs can distinguish between human fear and sadness

Dogs have long amazed us with their ability to read our emotions—understanding our smiles and our tears. But what's happening in their brains when they do this has remained mysterious. Phys.org reports that researchers used MRI brain scans to observe dogs as they viewed images of human facial expressions. The findings were striking: dogs process smiles in a unique brain region, and for the first time, researchers have direct evidence that dogs can distinguish between different negative expressions—anger, sadness, and fear. It proves what dog lovers have always known: your dog really does understand how you feel.

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