Dogs can Detect Trauma Flashbacks from our Breath Scent
In a small study, two dogs successfully identified the scent associated with traumatic memories in human breath. This discovery suggests that dogs could become even more effective companions in assisting individuals with PTSD to manage their condition.
Dogs diligently maintain their reputation as our closest companions. Apart from their roles in disease detection, bomb detection, and assisting individuals with mobility issues, our canine friends also contribute to soothing individuals with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
In such instances, dogs recognize physical signals emitted by humans during flashback episodes and offer comfort through cuddling or nudging, reassuring them of their safety in the present moment.
Exploring Dogs’ Potential Role in PTSD Assistance
Researchers at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia aimed to investigate whether dogs could assist individuals with PTSD by detecting signs of impending flashbacks, similar to their ability to anticipate seizures or identify stress induced by various factors.
To conduct their study, the scientists recruited participants from a larger research project examining how individuals with a history of trauma responded to current reminders of their past experiences. Among this group, 54% met the clinical criteria for a PTSD diagnosis.
From this subset, the researchers selected 26 individuals to serve as scent donors. Participants were instructed to wear a face mask while breathing calmly, and then to wear it again when stimuli triggering memories of their trauma were presented.
Callie and Ivy
As the researchers proceeded with collecting samples, they began recruiting dogs for the study. Among 25 candidates, they identified two highly motivated canines, named Ivy and Callie, willing to undergo training to detect stressed breath.
Laura Kiiroja, the first author of the study, commented, “Both Ivy and Callie showed genuine enthusiasm for this task. Their unwavering eagerness for tasty treats proved to be advantageous. Interestingly, persuading them to take breaks was more challenging than initiating their work. Callie, in particular, ensured there was no delay.”
Training and Testing of Dogs on Differentiating Calm and Stressed Facemask Samples
The dogs underwent training to differentiate between calm and stressed facemask samples. Subsequently, they were tested on 52 face mask samples collected (26 calm and 26 stressed).
Callie exhibited an 81% accuracy rate in distinguishing between the two, while Ivy achieved a score of 74%. Interestingly, the researchers suggest that Callie’s success in the test may stem from her ability to detect breath chemicals associated with shame, while Ivy’s proficiency may be linked to detecting anxiety.
“Although both dogs achieved remarkable accuracy, they appeared to perceive ‘stressed’ breath samples slightly differently,” explained Kiiroja. “We hypothesized that Ivy was sensitive to sympathetic-adreno-medullar axis hormones, such as adrenaline, while Callie was attuned to hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones, like cortisol. This understanding is crucial for training service dogs, as early detection of PTSD symptoms necessitates sensitivity to sympathetic-adreno-medullar axis hormones.”
The researchers acknowledge that their study, published in the journal Frontiers in Allergy, serves as a proof-of-concept, and emphasize the need for larger-scale studies to validate this newfound ability in dogs.
Read the original article on: New Atlas
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