Ask any animal lover, and they’ll tell you how beneficial they are for our hearts and minds. Pet owners have been saying this to anyone who would listen for decades. And science agrees.
Beyond lighting up our lives and providing warm companionship, there’s ample evidence that this bond has real effect on the human brain. Here’s a few more reasons to love your pet even more — if that’s possible.
Pets change our brain chemistry
Multiple studies have shown that spending time with and cuddling our pets releases oxytocin, a neurotransmitter linked to bonding, love, and affection. Research conducted with dog owners have shown that they experience an oxytocin boost of over 6% after interacting with their dog. And this boost does amazing things for our brain.
Oxytocin has a plethora of physiological benefits. It slows down our heart rate, lowers our blood pressure, and reduces the production of the stress hormone cortisol. It’s associated with building trust and feeling safe, showing that cuddling with a pet calms us down.
Interactions with pets also boost levels of beta endorphins and dopamine. Beta endorphins are one of three endorphins released in the human brain. They bind to the opioid receptors, lowering bodily stress and increasing pain management. Beta endorphins also increase the level of dopamine in our brain by slowing the release of the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid, or GABA, a natural dopamine inhibitor. By lowering this neurotransmitter, our brain is able to release more dopamine. This combined effect reduces pain by blocking the pain impulse in the brain.
Dopamine is also responsible for elevating motivation, boosting our energy, and heightening our focus. In all, cuddling with pets has a profound impact on the neurotransmitters in our brain, enhancing and improving our overall well-being.
Pets develop stronger interpersonal relationships
Owning a pet means taking on the responsibility of their health, safety, and emotional well-being. They depend on us entirely, and yet, we don’t share a verbal language with them — making communication difficult at times.
Because of this obstacle in communication, multiple studies have shown that pet owners are better at assessing social cues and emotional signals in other human beings. By training our brain to interpret and read minute nonverbal stimuli, we naturally begin to apply this inclination in other areas of our lives.
Pets also improve our ability to empathize and there are numerous reasons for this. To start, all over our bodies are nerve endings. These nerves are connected to our brain, sending signals for the brain to interpret touch in a variety of ways. All of these nerves and sensors make up the somatosensory association cortex, and within that area of the brain, we find the supramarginal gyrus, which plays a huge role in developing and maintaining empathy.
The supramarginal gyrus not only interprets sensory data, it appears to be largely responsible for identifying non-verbal social cues, such as reading posture and gestures in people. The combination of touch and interpretation of signals all leads to higher levels of empathy, which naturally leads to better interpersonal relationships in our lives.
Pets improve our mental health
With the plethora of feel good hormones pets release in your body, it’s no wonder they make great companions when you are down. Because these hormones work to not only make us feel better, but reduce pain and stress, animal therapy is becoming more accepted as a valid method of therapy.
Pet companionship reduces loneliness, which if left untreated can lead to significantly reduced release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. Lower levels of these neurotransmitters are found in multiple brain-related illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Feeling lonely can reinforce symptoms, causing a feedback loop that further drives a person into their isolation.
Beyond simply helping your brain create neurotransmitters, pets can help break the cycle of isolation simply by forcing us out of our routines. Dogs need walks, and to be let outside for bathroom breaks. Cats and other housebound animals need to be taken to veterinary clinics and possibly to be groomed. Barnyard animals require exercise and clean up routines. These trips into the outside world give us purpose and our brain loves achieving a goal, no matter how small.
Pets also give us something to relate to others with. We talk about about pets, sharing photos and stories, allowing us to connect with people in our lives in various ways. We may even be inclined to join pet specific groups on social media, expanding our network and offering us the opportunity to interact with like-minded people.
Pets are good for our overall health
We’ve talked a lot about pets and how they release neurotransmitters in the brain. But those hormones are good for much more than brain health and mood. By lowering the levels of cortisol in our body, we often experience stabilized heart rates, lower blood pressure, and lower cholesterol; all of which work to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Dog owners find it easier to reach their daily exercise goals when they take their pups for a walk. Horse owners swear by the physical benefits of horseback riding. And even pets that don’t require daily outdoor excursions prompt us to exercise in other ways when we play and clean up after them.
It’s also been shown that pets have a positive impact on children by strengthening their immune system. Children with pets in the home have demonstrated experiencing less anxiety and are able to cope with stressful situations easier than children without pets. Not to mention the long-term responsibility involved in caring for a pet that teaches a myriad of life lessons to children of all ages that they carry forward into their adult lives.
Conclusion
Pets have been a part of our families for centuries. They provide amazing benefits to our bodies and minds, improving our lives in numerous ways. And not to worry! Even if you can’t own a pet, interacting with animals for a limited basis still provides the many of the same benefits as full-time pet ownership. So visit a dog park, volunteer at an animal shelter, or visit a friend’s pet. Your brain will thank you.
