Your Fantastic Mind

Dr. Greg Berns is an internationally-acclaimed animal neuroscientist and bestselling author. Berns and his team, whose research has been featured on 60 Minutes and National Geographic, were the first in the world to train and scan the brains of awake dogs in a MRI scanner to learn more about how they think and feel. Berns’ groundbreaking research has explored many fascinating questions: Do our dogs love us? Are they jealous? Can they do math? This episode follows several dogs in Berns’ MRI scanner as their owners learn some of the answers to these questions. His long-term work is focused on finding the part of the dog’s brain responsible for their eternally sunny outlook and their ability to easily make friends.

Greg Berns, MD, holds tryouts for dogs to see who will be able to participate in MRIs to help him learn more about what dogs are really thinking.

MRI results are reviewed from a participant and it’s learned the dog’s brain is more active for the prospect of praise than the prospect of food. Dr. Berns also discusses the important reason of studying dogs and their brains.