Photo: AFP
You probably already know this if you are lucky enough to have a dog, but scientists have now confirmed it...cuddling with your pup can help combat anxiety. It also has the added benefit of making people more sociable. Watching, feeling, and touching canines can boost neurons in the prefrontal cortex — the area of the brain that helps regulate emotional interactions. The study is published in the journal PLOS One also found the positive effect lasts even after the dog leaves- but are reduced when the pets are replaced with stuffed animals. The participants wore a skull cap with sensors that shone infrared light into their brains as they spent time petting and being with the canine. Time to get your family a dog!!