Behavioural Synchronisation between Dogs and Humans: Unveiling Interspecific Motor Resonance?

Area of Science:

• Comparative psychology
• Neuroscience
• Animal behavior

Background:

• Behavioral synchronisation between dogs and humans is a growing area of scientific interest.
• Existing research lacks a deep dive into the neurocognitive underpinnings of this social cognitive ability.
• Human synchronisation mechanisms involve motor resonance and mirror neurons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the neurocognitive mechanisms behind dogs' behavioural synchronisation with humans.
• To hypothesise that interspecific motor resonance, similar to human motor resonance, underpins this synchronisation.
• To identify potential neurobiological foundations for human-dog social interactions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted.
• Existing studies on interspecific behavioural synchronisation were analysed.
• Parallels were drawn from human motor resonance mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Dogs possess the prerequisites for motor resonance.
• Interspecific behavioural synchronisation may rely on the activation of human and canine mirror neurons.
• Motor contagion and social modulators are characteristics of motor resonance.

Conclusions:

• Evidence strongly suggests the potential existence of interspecific motor resonance.
• Direct empirical proof for interspecific motor resonance is still required.
• This framework guides future research into the neurocognitive basis of human-dog behavioural synchronisation.