How Dogs Love Us: a neuroscientist and his dog decode the canine brain

How Dogs Love Us: a neuroscientist and his dog decode the canine brain

by Gregory Berns (Author)

Synopsis

Neuroscientist Gregory Berns had spent decades using MRI imaging technology to study how the human brain works, but a different question still nagged at him: What is my dog thinking? You can't ask a dog why he does something. And you certainly can't ask him how he feels. After his family adopted Callie, a shy, skinny terrier mix, Berns realised there was only one way to find out - use an MRI machine to scan the dog's brain. Despite an oppressive maze of bureaucratic hurdles, Berns was determined to proceed with his 'Dog Project', adamant that it would only be conducted under humane conditions, with no restraints - the dogs had to participate of their own free will. Callie followed her nose - and a trail of hotdogs - and led Berns to the discovery of profound and heart-warming new evidence that has unlocked the science behind the canine-human bond. How Dogs Love Us demonstrates why dogs should be treated with love, respect, and appreciation for their social and emotional intelligence.

$3.34

Save:$8.25 (71%)

Quantity

1 in stock

More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 272
Edition: UK edition
Publisher: Scribe UK
Published: 02 Jan 2014

ISBN 10: 1922247316
ISBN 13: 9781922247315
Book Overview: A revealing new study into the minds of our most loyal companions.

Media Reviews
'If you've ever looked at your dog and wondered what's going on inside his head, you'll get a kick out of this book ...a fascinating, heart-warming insight into man's best friend.' Adelaide Advertiser 'Humorous and moving' New Idea How Dogs Love Us makes a thought-provoking and often humorous case for something canine lovers have suspected for years: dogs are not simply 'Pavlovian learning machines' but, rather, sentient beings with a high level of empathy and an affinity for social learning. In answering his original question, he sparks many more about how we value and care for our canine companions. -- Kirsten Galles Shelf Awareness 'How Dogs Love Us is a fascinating account of a scientist's tenacious pursuit of the unknown. Gregory Berns's account of his lab's Dog Project provides readers with new insights into the minds of our most loyal companions while also reminding us that scientific research should be approached with passion, love, and a bold disregard for the possibility of failure.' -- Dan Ariely, author of The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty 'An exciting journey to the center of a dog's emotional mind. Berns offers hilarious descriptions of training his dog to lie still while being fed hot dogs in the MRI brain-scan machine.' -- Temple Grandin, author of Animals Make Us Human 'With infectious passion for dogs, science, life, and love, Gregory Berns takes us on a rollicking yet scientifically serious study of the mental life of dogs - what dogs understand and how they think. Berns's tale is a dramatic but very funny look at how real, grubby science can accomplish great things. This is dognitive science at its insightful, passionate, and playful best.' -- Patricia Churchland, author of Touching a Nerve 'How Dogs Love Us is the beautifully written story of an iconoclastic neuroscientist challenging the status quo and seeking to truly understand the dogs with whom we share our lives.' -- Jennifer Arnold, author of Through a Dog's Eyes 'Amazingly entertaining and super smart. In How Dogs Love Us, Gregory Berns gives us our first real look inside the brain of a dog, while simultaneously setting new standards in ethical science. A truly great read!' -- Steven Kotler, author of A Small Furry Prayer 'Gregory Berns's book, packed with solid scientific research and warm personal stories, will set the agenda for future research on the minds and emotional lives of animals.' -- Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals 'Fast, fun, and funny, Gregory Berns demonstrates scientifically that dogs are people, too.' -- Laurence Gonzales, author of Surviving Survival 'Gregory Berns's amusing story about his dogs, his daughters, and a giant magnet communicates as no other what fun science can be.' -- Frans de Waal, author of The Bonobo and the Atheist 'This book lets you see inside the mind of a dog as never before. How Dogs Love Us will revolutionise how we understand animals - especially our dogs. This is a must-read for animal lovers and neuroscientists alike.' -- Brian Hare, author of The Genius of Dogs
Author Bio
Gregory Berns, MD, PhD, is the distinguished professor of neuroeconomics at Emory University. Dr Berns's research is frequently the subject of popular media coverage, including articles in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.