Gillian Herold

Professor Zugnoni
UWP 1Y
21 October 2016
Wikipedia Outline
(a) The Overview
Seeing an opportunity for new and exciting research, Dr. Miho Kawasaga and her
colleagues at Azabu University in Japan began researching Dogs advancing cognitive ability.
Previously, no one experimented with dogs because Scientists believed they were genetically
modified, therefore, the research would not be representative of the true species. These two
studies are the first ever to analyze the oxytocin levels between two different species, not just
humans and dogs.
Dr. Kawasaga first published their research in 2009 analyzing the use of social cues by
dogs. The research study in 2009 concluded that dogs recognize their owners figures and thus
use certain visual cues to communicate with them. Since then, the 2015 additional study proved
that the owner-dog bond is the same as a mother-infant bond through gazing into each others
eyes. In order to analyze the bond scientists conducted an experiment analyzing the pee of the
owner and dog for its oxytocin levels. During the experiment, Scientists also analyzed dogs
ancestor, the wolf, and found that wolves did not have the same bond as humans and dogs do. In
conclusion, Kawasaga discovered that dogs evolved social cues in which their ancestor does not
have, allowing Dogs to connect to humans on another level.

(b) Sections
History: First Study of Different Species Bond
This study is the first to show oxytocin at work in both members of different species, and it
suggests that the effect co-evolved over the long history of dog domestication.
This chemical loop unites the brains of two different species
However, dogs were rarely evaluated as subjects in cognitive science until approximately 15
years ago, because they were originally thought to be genetically modified by humans, and
considered as belonging to humans as livestock.
Discuss 2009 and 2015 discoveries
Why were there rarely any studies involving dogs?
Interest in Owner-Dog bond
Background of Nagasawa and her colleagues

Evolution: Connecting with Humans

"Dogs successfully coexist with humans because they have adapted the bonding mechanism
[used in] relations with humans,
Dogs seem to have hijacked this chemical connection between mother and child, to cement a
similarly strong bond with their owners
Attachment requires the distinction of a specific figure using species-specific social cues and
specific responses to the figure, brought about by neuroendocrinological homeostatic functions
as well as behavioral aspects. It has been shown that dogs can distinguish a particular human
figure (e.g. the owner) and exhibit specific autonomic reactions.
Discuss Dog Ancestry
Discuss difference between Dogs and Wolves
Discuss the difference in Nagasawas different experiments with each species
What did they evolve? Why? With who?
Bonding: Chemical Aspect
It involves oxytocin, a mammalian hormone that draws our attention to social cues

Discuss Oxytocin
o What is it?
o Examples of it
o Examples of bonds involving it

Pop Culture: Child Substitutes

Statistics of pets to children

Why? Who? (ex: millennials, women)
Studies involving the connections of people of various backgrounds with pets

(c) Citations
Cohen, Susan Phillips. "Can Pets Function as Family Members?" Western Journal of Nursing
Research 24.6 (2002): 621-38. Web.
Handwerk, Brian. "Dog Gazes Hijack the Brain's Maternal Bonding System." Smithsonian.com.
Smithsonian.com, 16 Apr. 2015. Web. 18 Oct. 2016.
Nagasawa, M., S. Mitsui, S. En, N. Ohtani, M. Ohta, Y. Sakuma, T. Onaka, K. Mogi, and T.
Kikusui. "Oxytocin-gaze Positive Loop and the Coevolution of Human-dog Bonds."
Science 348.6232 (2015): 333-36. Web.

Nagasawa, Miho, Kazutaka Mogi, and Takefumi Kikusui. "Attachment between Humans and
Dogs." Japanese Psychological Research 51.3 (2009): 209-21. Web.
Nagasawa, Miho, Takefumi Kikusui, Tatsushi Onaka, and Mitsuaki Ohta. "Dog's Gaze at Its
Owner Increases Owner's Urinary Oxytocin during Social Interaction." Hormones and
Behavior 55.3 (2009): 434-41. Web.
Yong, Ed. "Through This Chemical Loop, Dogs Win Our Hearts ..." National Geographic. N.p.,
16 Apr. 2015. Web. 18 Oct. 2016.