Brain Scans Identify Thought Processes in Dogs

For the first time, humans are able to capture images of actual canine thought processes. Researchers at Emory University have developed a way to scan the brains of alert dogs to learn more about the workings of the fascinating canine mind.

• The dogs in the initial Emory experiment were trained to respond to hand signals by their owners. One signal meant the dogs would receive a food treat; the other signal meant they would not receive one. Measured by an MRI, a specific region of the dog’s brains showed activity when they were given the hand signal for the treat, but not for the no-treat signal.
• The researchers hope to answer questions like: do dogs have empathy? Can they read their owners’ moods? How much human language do they really understand?