MRI studies exploring the dog–human relationship, particularly those led by neuroscientist Gregory Berns at Emory University, have revealed that dogs experience a profound emotional connection with their humans. In one key experiment, when dogs were exposed to various scents while in an fMRI scanner, only the scent of a familiar human (such as their owner) activated the caudate nucleus — the brain’s reward center associated with positive emotions and motivation. This response was stronger than for scents from food, other dogs (even familiar ones), unfamiliar humans, or even the dog’s own scent, suggesting that dogs prioritize their bond with us above other stimuli.
Other studies of the dog–human relationship build on this by showing that dogs’ brains light up similarly in response to their owner’s praise or voice, often as much as or more than to treats, highlighting individual preferences for social rewards over food.
Additional fMRI research has found activations in areas linked to emotion and attachment (like the insula and amygdala) when dogs view their caregiver’s face, mirroring the secure bond seen in human parent-child relationships — even responding positively to an angry expression from their owner.
These insights confirm that the dog-human connection is deeply reciprocal, driven by neural mechanisms that make our companionship incredibly rewarding for them.
Gregory Berns has conducted extensive research on canine cognition using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on awake, unrestrained dogs. His work began around 2012 with the Dog Project, which has trained over 80 dogs to voluntarily enter MRI scanners and remain still without sedation, using positive reinforcement techniques like treats and praise.
Beyond the well-known scent study on familiar odors (which showed activation in the caudate nucleus for owners’ scents), here are some of his other key dog studies, drawn from his publications and project descriptions:
Functional MRI in Awake Unrestrained Dogs (2012)
This foundational study demonstrated the feasibility of performing fMRI on dogs without sedation or restraints. Two dogs were initially trained to hold a down-stay in a custom chin rest while exposed to MRI noise, allowing for the first-ever scans of canine brain activity in response to hand signals indicating food rewards or no rewards. Findings showed distinct activation in the brain’s reward system, paving the way for non-invasive canine neuroscience.
Replicability and Heterogeneity of Awake Unrestrained Canine fMRI Responses (2013)
Building on the initial MRI work, this examined the consistency and variability of brain responses across multiple scans and dogs. It highlighted individual differences in how dogs’ brains process stimuli, emphasizing the need for larger sample sizes in canine neuroimaging.
One Pair of Hands is Not Like Another: Caudate BOLD Response in Dogs Depends on Signal Source and Canine Temperament (2014)
This investigated how dogs’ brain reward centers (caudate) respond to hand signals from different people, factoring in the dogs’ temperaments. Results showed stronger activations when signals came from familiar handlers, with variations based on whether the dog was bold or shy, suggesting personalized social cognition in canines.
Functional MRI in Awake Dogs Predicts Suitability for Assistance Work (2017)
Focused on service dogs, this used fMRI to scan brain responses to tasks and predict which dogs would succeed in assistance training programs. Dogs showing stronger activations in areas linked to impulse control and reward processing were more likely to graduate, offering a neural tool for selecting candidates and potentially reducing training failure rates.
Dogs Process Numerical Quantities in Similar Brain Region as Humans (2019)
In this experiment, dogs viewed varying numbers of dots on screens during fMRI scans without prior training. Their parietotemporal cortex activated in response to quantity changes, mirroring human numerical processing regions, indicating that basic numerosity might be an innate ability in dogs rather than learned.
Preference for Praise vs. Food (2016)
Dogs were scanned while receiving either verbal praise from owners or food treats. Brain reward areas lit up more for praise in some dogs, revealing individual preferences for social rewards over tangible ones, akin to human attachment dynamics.
Face Processing in Dogs
Explored how dogs’ brains handle facial recognition, with fMRI showing activations in temporal regions when viewing human and dog faces, suggesting specialized neural pathways for social cues.
Self-Restraint and Impulse Control
Behavioral and fMRI data assessed dogs’ ability to inhibit actions, linking brain activity in prefrontal areas to better self-control, with implications for training and behavior modification.
Berns has also applied his research to practical areas, such as early cancer detection in dogs via routine MRI health screenings, noting that up to half of aging dogs develop cancer and that awake scanning could enable curable interventions. His findings are detailed in books like How Dogs Love Us (2013) and What It’s Like to Be a Dog (2017), which synthesize these studies to argue for deeper human-canine bonds and ethical treatment of animals.
For a full list of his 130+ publications (many on dogs), his ResearchGate profile or personal website provides comprehensive access.
