Time with Dogs Helps People Concentrate and Relax
Dog lovers probably know this already, but a new study has proved that spending time with dogs can reduce your stress.
Not only that, but some activities with dogs can also help you concentrate according to the study, which has been published by Plos One.
Researchers from Konkuk University in South Korea looked at the effects of spending time with a dog on 15 men and 15 women aged between their 20s and their 40s.
While wearing headsets that measured their brain waves, the participants took part in eight different activities with a well-trained 4-year-old female standard poodle.
These activities lasted three minutes each and included meeting, playing, feeding, massaging, brushing, taking a photograph with the dog, hugging, and walking.
In all of these activities the participants were found to have much less stress than when not with the dog.
The results also showed that walking and playing with the dog helped to relax the participants, and that feeding, massaging and hugging the dog had a positive effect on their mood.
Massaging, brushing and playing with the dog also improved the participants' concentration.
Previous studies have shown that spending time with animals, especially dogs, can have positive effects on people's emotional, mental and physical health. However, this study showed that specific activities with dogs can have specific effects in the brain.
The study included some participants who had pets and some who didn't. However, the writers of the study said one problem with it was that the people who took part probably already liked animals or had experience with them.
It is likely that people who don't already enjoy being with animals would not experience the same positive effects.
