Archive | Neuroscience RSS feed for this section

Fearful Dogs and Extinction

by Elizabeth Deitz on 25. Mar, 2011 in Neuroscience

Lately I have been reading a lot about the neurobiology of fear. It is  unfortunate  that once conditioned fear is learned, it is fairly indelible. They are emotional memories and as such they are difficult to erase.  Yes, you can countercondition and that is somewhat effective, temporarily. It helps, but when it comes to fear in dogs, [...]

Read full story • Comments { 1 }

Tweet With Your Dog and Live Longer

by Elizabeth Deitz on 21. Dec, 2010 in Biology, Neuroscience

Occasionally writing this blog takes me to some weird places and this was one such occasion. It seems that science supports the notion that e-interactions and canine interactions may be as affective as “real” relationships in helping us to live longer and more happily.  Social Connections and Health It has been well-documented that low levels of social interaction [...]

Read full story • Comments { 1 }

Effects of Human Affection Endure Many Days For Shelter Dogs

by Elizabeth Deitz on 02. Aug, 2010 in Biology, Neuroscience

In a very interesting column that appeared in Scientific American recently by Jesse Bering, I came across some references to a few studies regarding the human-dog bond.  The article was mainly about the ability of stray dogs in Sofia, Bulgaria to follow a human’s gesture of pointing. While those findings where very interesting, what really [...]

Read full story • Comments { 1 }

Does Your Dog Yawn When You Do?

by Elizabeth Deitz on 26. Jul, 2010 in Biology, Neuroscience

Many people feel that their dogs empathize with them when they are sick or troubled. But now there is scientific evidence to support this! This is really an important breakthrough for lots of reasons and if nothing else should convince the skeptics out there that there is at least a possibility that our dogs empathize. [...]

Read full story • Comments { 0 }