Dogs' Ability to Recognize Human Emotions Similar to That of Humans

According to a new study, dogs' ability to distinguish emotional expressions on human faces may be more advanced than previously thought. Dogs are not only able to differentiate between happy and angry facial expressions, but they can also distinguish between fear and anger, and fear and sadness, which are similar negative emotions. Researchers found that dogs' brain activity when looking at different human facial expressions showed that they can differentiate between ’fear and anger and fear and sadness’. This is considered the first evidence that dogs can distinguish between two similar emotions expressed on faces. These findings further emphasize dogs' ability to understand human emotions. Experts consider it an important step to investigate how dogs' behavior changes after being exposed to different emotions in the future. The role of domestication in making dogs so sensitive to humans and whether other species would exhibit the same behavior if given similar opportunities remains unanswered.