Does growing up with Fidos make for healthier babies?
Maybe sa国际传媒� at least according to a group of researchers from the University of B.C.
Postdoctoral fellow Nicole Sugden and Professor Janet Werker are looking for families with babies between the ages of two and six months to conduct a one-hour experiment.
Sugden said that although studies have shown that having a dog improves adults and childrensa国际传媒檚 social skills and their health, no one has looked if the effect stretches to babies.
sa国际传媒淒oes having a family dog change infantssa国际传媒� brain response to language or boost their ability to understand an adult?sa国际传媒� Sugden asked.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e hoping to find out how having a dog influences infantssa国际传媒� early development.sa国际传媒�
Sugden believes theresa国际传媒檚 a few reasons why having a dog around might benefit a baby.
The type of sa国际传媒渂aby talksa国际传媒� often used with pets is, as the name suggest, similar to how people interact with young babies, Sugden said.
Researchers believe that babies seeing that will notice the similarities and be more primed for interaction.
sa国际传媒淪econdly, dogs can be very responsive social partners and babies are highly sensitive to interactive social partners,sa国际传媒� Sugden said.
sa国际传媒淎nd thirdly, we have co-evolved with dogs for over 10,000 years. This special evolutionary relationship with dogs suggests that we, they, or both of us may have evolved to benefit each other.sa国际传媒�
The study consists of a one-hour appointment at the UBC Infant Studies Centre.
Researchers will outfit the babies with a stretchy cap that used LED lights to measure brain activity. The device will use near-infrared spectroscopy see if babies with or without pet dogs show a more flexible brain response to human speech and dog barks.
The, Sugden said, researchers will point or look at toys and see if the babies follow along.
sa国际传媒淲e expect babies with dogs will show a more flexible brain response and more point and gaze following,sa国际传媒� she said.
Families with and without pet dogs are welcome and once the little ones complete the study, they receive their first piece of university memorabilia: an honorary UBC Bachelorsa国际传媒檚 in Infant Science and a little baby scientist t-shirt.
Those interested in taking part , call 604-822-6408 or email at infants@psych.ubc.ca.
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