养狗与人类健康和福祉的许多好处有关。然而,由于以前缺乏与宠物狗互动过程中大脑活动变化的研究,潜在的心理生理机制仍不清楚.本研究的目的是检查心率(HR)的变化,心率变异性(HRV),和脑电图(EEG)功率在狗主人和他们的宠物狗之间的相互作用。50名健康的成年狗主人完成了基线心理测量和宠物依恋量表。主观放松单位(SUR)以及连续脑电图,HR,和HRV通过便携式设备在五个实验条件(基线休息,放松诱导运动,拍拍玩具狗,真正的狗存在,并在参与者家中拍拍一只真正的狗)。SUR在所有实验条件下均高于基线。狗互动期间的SUR也高于狗没有互动时的SUR。然而,狗互动过程中的SUR与玩具狗和松弛诱导条件没有显着差异。较高的三角洲,theta,阿尔法,与所有其他条件相比,在狗相互作用期间发现β功率和HR。与基线相比,在狗相互作用期间发现更高的HRV,拍拍玩具狗,和放松诱导运动,但没有显着不同于真正的狗只存在的条件。最后,整体HR与心理测量相关。总的来说,结果表明,当人类与宠物狗互动时,大脑和心脏活动会发生显著变化,与放松和集中注意力的增加相一致。这些发现与理解与宠物相关的健康益处的潜在机制有关。
Dog ownership has been linked to numerous benefits to human health and wellbeing. However, due to the lack of previous research on changes to brain activity during interactions with pet dogs, the underlying psychophysiological mechanisms are still unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine changes in heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and electroencephalogram (EEG) power during interactions between dog owners and their pet dog. Fifty healthy adult dog owners completed baseline psychological measures and pet attachment scales. Subjective units of
relaxation (SUR) as well as continuous EEG, HR, and HRV via portable devices were measured during five experimental conditions (baseline resting,
relaxation-induction exercise, patting a toy dog, real dog present, and patting a real dog) in participants\' homes. SUR was higher in all experimental conditions than at baseline. SUR was also higher during dog interaction than when the dog was present with no interaction. However, SUR during dog interaction was not significantly different from the toy dog and
relaxation induction condition. Higher delta, theta, alpha, beta power and HR were found during dog interaction than all other conditions. Higher HRV was found during dog interaction compared to baseline, patting a toy dog, and
relaxation-induction exercise, but not significantly different from the real dog present only condition. Lastly, overall HR correlated with psychological measures. Overall, the results show that there are significant changes in brain and heart activity when humans interact with pet dogs, consistent with increases in
relaxation and focussed attention. These findings are relevant to understanding the potential mechanisms for health benefits associated with pets.