Humans have significantly altered the brain structure of domestic dogs, study finds

In breeding dogs for specific behaviors like hunting or companionship, humans have significantly altered their brain structure, a study released Wednesday found.

Researchers analyzed MRI brain scans of 62 purebred dogs across 33 breeds, and the variation in the layout of the dogs' brains was glaring, Harvard University neuroscientist Erin Hecht told Science Magazine.

The differences were not just the result of different body sizes or skull shapes — they aligned with different behaviors, such as "sight hunting, scent hunting, guarding, and companionship," reads the study, published in The Journal of Neuroscience.

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Researchers found that dogs used for police work differed from other dogs in brain areas linked to sight and smell, while those bred for fighting showed differences in areas linked to fear and stress.

The dogs analyzed in the study were pets, not working dogs, which means the differences were evident in their brains even when not actively performing the behaviors, Hecht told Science Magazine.

The study serves as a reminder to be conscious about how humans are altering animals, Hecht says, and to be responsible about how we are treating them. Read more at Science Magazine.