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Mariah Sublett
Sean Blevins
Honors English II
September 22, 2014
The Comparison Between Man and Dog
Dogs are wired like humans. They think like humans, they react like humans, and they
communicate like humans. Experts say dogs use the same thought process as humans do.
Although their brains might be smaller, dogs and other living creatures have a complex system in
their mind. Recent studies, however, have demonstrated that even insects, with their tiny brains,
are capable or more complex thought than they've ever been given credit for (Miller, Pat).
Before research, the idea of an animal feeling or showing emotion was unfathomable. Now,
research has shown, ...that the nerve cells of the dog brain work the same as do the nerve cells
of the human brain. The patterns of electrical activity between the two are identical, the neurons
in both brains are made up of the same chemical composite. The dog brain has within it most of
the same structural design as that of a human brain (Scibona). Studies show that dogs are not
much different than humans are, and ultimately the only difference is they stand on four furry
legs. The way dogs think is extremely similar to the way humans think.
In one study between man and dog, the results showed how similar dogs are to humans.
The research included the following: Both groups listened to almost two hundred dog and
human soundsfrom whining and crying to laughter and playful barkingwhile the team
scanned their brain activity. The resulting study, published in Current Biology today, reveals both
that dog brains have voice-sensitive regions and that these neurological areas resemble those of

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humans (Sneed, Annie). Dogs feel many of the same emotions as people do. Humans
experience and show many different, crazy emotions every single day, and studies show that
dogs do, as well. When all dogs are happy, their tails wag and their tongues hang out. It can also
be seen when they are sad, because their puppy eyes shine. But, what cannot be seen, is their
complex emotions, like love and surprise. They experience fear, pain, joy and anger as well as
more complex emotions such as embarrassment, love and grief, (Five key questions about
pleasure.). The tie of emotion between man and dog is very alike.
Every dogs brain contains the limbic system, which is their control center of emotions.
This is the same system in a human's brain. The limbic system is responsible for experiencing
and expressing emotions. There are three main parts of the limbic system: amygalda, which
generates fear and aggression, hypothalamus, which triggers hormone release, and hippocampus,
which helps their memory (Walden, Kat). One emotion that is questioned often is love. Many
dog owners may wonder if their dog loves them as much as they love their dog. One study
shows, Not surprisingly, dogs hearing a cue for a treat registered excitement and pleasure. Then
the researchers exposed the dogs to scents of familiar and unfamiliar humans. The dogs' brains
got just as excited by the scent of their familiar humans as they did when expecting a food
treat (Moss, Meg). We can assume based off of research that dogs do feel love for their owners
through excitement. Love, for humans, can be exciting, as shown for dogs as well. This is just
another way dogs are extremely similarly wired the way we are.
A dogs behavior can also be tied into the way people behave. Dogs and humans share a
similar social environment. Our findings suggest that they also use similar brain mechanisms to
process social information, explained Attila Andics, leader of the Hungarian research group

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which carried out the study (Dogs express similar emotions in voice as we do). A persons
social manners can be compared with a dogs social manners, meaning dogs react to different
situations similarly to people. Stanley Coren explains this idea in his writing:
Their brains also exhibit similar electrical patterns during sleep as humans, indicating
that they do indeed dream. Large dogs appear to have fewer dreams than small dogs, but
their dreams last longer. Dogs also appear to be interested in high-definition television
due to how their eyes process flickers and translate motion. And not only do dogs smile,
but they also laugh: scientists have recorded what was first perceived to be panting
among dogs at play, but when analyzed, the recording yielded a broader range of
frequencies than simple panting (Coren, Stanley).
Dogs show familiar reactions to occurrences that humans experience daily. Studies show dogs
can and do laugh and dream. Where the limbic system is the dog's emotional center, the cerebral
cortex is his thought center. It produces learning, memory, attention, perceptual awareness and
problem-solving. When it comes to dog behavior, the cerebral cortex and the limbic system have
an important relationship with each other (Walden, Kat). The limbic system and cerebral cortex
have a close bond with each other in the brain. Because of the cerebral cortex, which affects
thoughts and learning, dogs can learn new tricks and memorize them when positive rewards are
present.
While the cerebral cortex is the thought center of a dogs brain, the various stimuli
controls the behavior of a dog. The limbic system, or emotional control, is a big factor and
greatly affects the various stimuli. Emotions directly affect one's behavior. We see this when
some people get angry, they throw a fit and get out of control. When a dog is anxious, he will not

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train well (Walden, Kat). This behavior can be seen in both humans and dogs, when one is
anxious or depressed, they may not be able to perform the same tasks as well because of their
strong emotions. Like stated before, a dog may not eat or drink when he is sad. When humans are
anxious, they may not present their ideas well. The anxiety is seen in stage fright, performances
can go bad just because of the presenters emotions. When a treat or toy is present and rewarded
to a dog, the various stimuli is positively stimulated. This also ties in with the cerebral cortex,
because treats are rewarded when tricks are performed, and dogs remember this. This act can be
compared to humans, when mistakes are made, some learn from them and some remember not to
perform the same mistake again. Dogs take information in from the world, they learn and modify
certain behaviors, they have memories and can solve problems, and they communicate with each
other and humans (Coren, Stanley).
Dogs have the capability to do humanly things, such as dream, laugh, speak, think, and
experience emotions. Studies have proven that a dogs brain is not very different from a humans
brain. In fact, human and dog brains are wired the exact same way. In the study mentioned
before, where sounds were played to both humans and animals, ...they process voices and
emotions of other individuals similarly. Both groups respond with greater neural activity when
they listen to voices reflecting positive emotions such as laughing than to negative sounds that
include crying or whining. (Sneed, Annie). This study has proved the emotional similarity
between dogs and humans, and how similarly they process and react to sounds. Like their
human companions, dogs use certain parts of their brains to detect voices, researchers report in
the March 3 Current Biology (Sanders, Laura). The way dogs process information is extremely
similar to the way humans process information. Both species can think, solve, and speak when

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presented with a situation. The similarities between both man and dog are surprising, and really,
the only difference is one species stands on four legs while the other is on two.
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Works Cited
Coren, Stanley. How Dogs Think: Understanding the Canine Mind. New York: SC Psychological
Enterprises, 2004. Print.
"Dogs express similar emotions in voice as we do." IANS 21 Feb. 2014. Health Reference
Center Academic. Web. 3 Oct. 2014.
"Five key questions about pleasure." New Scientist (2003): 41. General OneFile. Web. 6 Oct.
2014.
Miller, Pat. "What do you think? some thoughts on - and recognition of - canine cognition and
emotions." Whole Dog Journal 14.7 (2011): 18+. General OneFile. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
Moss, Meg. "What goes on inside your dog's head?" Ask. Apr. 2014: 3. General OneFile. Web. 3
Oct. 2014.
Sanders, Laura. "Dog brain areas respond to voices: MRIs hint at how pups understand human
communication." Science News 22 Mar. 2014: 10. General OneFile. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
Sneed, Annie. Dog Brains Process Voices & Emotions Just Like Humans, Study Finds.
Huffington Post. Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 3 Oct. 2014
Walden, Kat. What Part of the Dog Brain Affects Behavior? The Daily Puppy. Demand Media,
n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2014.