Researchers at the University of Vienna have identified how dogs’ brains process human facial expressions through a study involving 14 dogs placed in brain scanners while viewing photographs of human faces. When dogs were shown images of smiling faces, the brain region associated with reward systems demonstrated heightened activity, the same area that activates when dogs anticipate food or encounter familiar people.
The reward circuitry in question plays a role in motivation and positive reinforcement in the brain. Lead researcher Laura Cuaya noted that the findings suggest happy faces hold positive value for dogs, even when displayed by strangers. The researchers, Cuaya and Raúl Hernández-Pérez, both at the University of Vienna, expanded their investigation to examine canine responses to multiple human emotions including happiness, anger, fear, and sadness. Their results showed that only happy faces triggered the reward response, while dogs did not distinguish between different types of negative emotions.
Cuaya and Hernández-Pérez have established themselves as prominent researchers in canine cognition through projects examining how dogs interpret human language and behavior. The pair recruited study participants by approaching dog owners in parks, selecting animals that appeared calm and well-trained. Their own border collies participated in the research alongside other recruited dogs and their owners.
The scientists framed their findings within the broader context of human-canine evolution. Unlike comparisons between humans and other primates that share a common ancestor, dogs followed a distinct evolutionary trajectory before domestication shaped their ability to understand and cooperate with humans. Cuaya emphasized that dogs demonstrate remarkable capacity for reading human emotions despite being a completely different species.
The researchers suggested their findings have practical implications for human-canine interaction. Cuaya recommended that people smile at their dogs as a form of positive reinforcement, noting that happiness can serve as a reward alongside traditional treats. The study was published in the journal iScience.
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