News · 11 August 2026
Dogs can tell if you're happy or scared, brain scans show
Photo by Matt Nelson on Unsplash
Scientists have found that dogs can tell the difference between happy and negative human facial expressions, such as those showing fear, anger, and sadness. Brain scans of dogs showed they interpret smiles in a distinct brain region, with happy faces illuminating areas linked to reward processing. Dogs' ability suggests they developed social understanding of humans through domestication, researchers from the University of Vienna said.
Reported by Independent · How we write briefs