Similarities in Brain Wiring of Anxious Dogs and Humans Discovered

A new study by researchers at Ghent University, Belgium, has found that anxious dogs have measurable differences in their brains linked to their anxiety, which are similar to those found in humans with anxiety disorders. The study sought to investigate possible pathways in the brain that are associated with anxiety in dogs, which could improve treatment for anxiety in veterinary medicine and reveal similarities with what we know of human anxiety. The researchers found significant differences between anxious and non-anxious dogs in the communication pathways and connection strength within the "anxiety circuit" of the brain.