New research shows dogs can distinguish between human emotional expressions

Researchers from the University of Vienna have provided the first direct evidence that dogs possess the ability to distinguish between different human emotional expressions. Published in the journal iScience on August 10, 2026, the study utilized machine learning to analyze brain scans of 12 Border Collie dogs as they observed images of human faces displaying joy, anger, fear, and sadness.

The study found that when dogs viewed happy faces, regions associated with higher cognitive functions and reward processing, specifically the temporal cortex and the caudate nucleus, showed increased activity. While negative emotions such as anger, fear, and sadness did not trigger these reward-related areas, researchers identified distinct brain activity patterns across the entire brain when dogs viewed negative expressions, indicating they can differentiate between anger, fear, and sadness.

This study highlights the evolutionary bond between humans and dogs, suggesting that canine brain functions have adapted over time to recognize and process human emotional cues to enhance cooperation. The results provide significant insight into canine cognition, demonstrating that these animals understand far more about human feelings than previously understood.