Eva Hardwick & Allana Brito Find Joy with Animals in Vogue Portugal May 2023 AOC Fashion

Models Eva Hardwick and Allana Brito are styled by Emmanuelle Ramos in ‘Maria dos Prazeres’, a fashion story with deep ties to nature.

Photographer Alexandra Sophie [IG] is behind the lens for Vogue Portugal’s May 2023 Pleasure Issue. / Hair and makeup by Aurelia-Liansberg

Human Brains and Nonthreatening Animals

According to recent studies, the human brain has a positive response to nonthreatening animals. When individuals come across animals that are perceived to be cute or friendly, such as puppies or kittens, their brain releases oxytocin, a hormone associated with social bonding and trust.

Much exciting new research focuses on the brains of the animals — and dogs in particular. A new study, published in the journal Evolution, investigated brain size in both modern and ancient dog breeds.

Domesticated Dog Brains Defy Scientific Expectations

The research team found that dog brains are getting larger the further genetically that they have evolved away from a wolf. Researchers expected the exact opposite result, arguing that the larger, ancient brain was required for self-defense and hunting among ancient dogs and wolves alike.

The rules of evolution automatically shrink a larger brain — with its greater demands for energy and food ‘fuel’ — among domesticated animals. The closer the dogs’ DNA was to the DNA of wolves, the rule held with an average shrinkage of the dog brains by 20%.

The rule did not hold among dog species whose DNA was significantly differentiated from wolf brains. And it didn’t matter if the dog had energy-sucking responsibilities, such as herding or guarding. Researchers expected more wolf-size brains among these animals, as Popular Mechanics explains.

Have we tempted you with our narrative? Follow the link in the first paragraph to the entire story to learn lots more. ~ Anne