In the News: German Scientists Prove There is Life After Death

As a meteorologist, I love it when science helps explain what we consider the "paranormal." The paranormal is only "beyond normal" until science catches up with it, and now it seems that it finally has in respect to life after death.

 - You don't have to be of a religion to believe in life after death. You simply have to understand the science of energy. Energy cannot be destroyed only transformed and the physical energies that course through our bodies couple with our memories and personalities to become spirits that cross over, or earth-bound ghosts.  

 NOW- new research from German scientists has proven an afterlife exists. Here's the article:

THIS IS AMAZING- SCIENCE PROVES THE AFTERLIFE! 

GERMAN SCIENTISTS PROVE THERE IS LIFE AFTER DEATH

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SOURCE: http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/german-scientists-prove-there-is-life-after-death/

Berlin| A team of psychologists and medical doctors associated with the Technische Universität of Berlin, have announced this morning that they had proven by clinical experimentation, the existence of some form of life after death. This astonishing announcement is based on the conclusions of a study using a new type of medically supervised near-death experiences, that allow patients to be clinically dead for almost 20 minutes before being brought back to life.

This controversial process that was repeated on 944 volunteers over that last four years, necessitates a complex mixture of drugs including epinephrine and dimethyltryptamine, destined to allow the body to survive the state of clinical death and the reanimation process without damage. The body of the subject was then put into a temporary comatic state induced by a mixture of other drugs which had to be filtered by ozone from his blood during the reanimation process 18 minutes later.

The extremely long duration of the experience was only recently made possible by the development of a new cardiopulmonary recitation (CPR) machine called the AutoPulse. This type of equipment has already been used over the last few years, to reanimate people who had been dead for somewhere between 40 minutes to an hour.

Near-death experiences have been hypothesized in various medical journals in the past, as having the characteristics of hallucinations, but Dr Ackermann and his team, on the contrary, consider them as evidence for the existence of the afterlife and of a form of dualism between mind and body.

The team of scientists led by Dr Berthold Ackermann, has monitored the operations and have compiled the testimonies of the subjects. Although there are some slight variations from one individual to another, all of the subjects have some memories of their period of clinical death. and a vast majority of them described some very similar sensations.

Most common memories include a feeling of detachment from the body, feelings of levitation, total serenity, security, warmth, the experience of absolute dissolution, and the presence of an overwhelming light.

The scientists say that they are well aware the many of their conclusions could shock a lot of people, like the fact that the religious beliefs of the various subjects seems to have held no incidence at all, on the sensations and experiences that they described at the end of the experiment. Indeed, the volunteers counted in their ranks some members are a variety of Christian churches, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and atheists.

“I know our results could disturb the beliefs of many people” says Mr Ackermann. “But in a way, we have just answered one of the greatest questions in the history of mankind, so I hope these people will be able to forgive us. Yes, there is life after death and it looks like this applies to everyone.”

- See more at: http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/german-scientists-prove-there-is-life-after-death/#sthash.Dni7U5Cy.dpuf

Want to learn more about how spirits communicate? 

 Check out my Book: LESSONS LEARNED FROM TALKING TO THE DEAD: Follow Rob on a treasure-hunt-style journey in Virginia as he and others try to explain what appear to be random and obscure words, signs and symbols from a spirit, that all wind up being intensely personal to the spirit.Explore the science behind how they communicate. Learn how to receive their messages, where they appear, and important messages in how to live your life. Rob takes you into cemeteries, battlefields, and historic places. You’ll see what happens to victims of suicide and murders, and how infants and animals pass messages to the living. Featuring: Inspired Ghost Tracking and mediums Barb Mallon, Troy Cline and Ruth Larkin. 

Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead for $8.99 paperback and $2.99 E-bookon AMAZON:http://tinyurl.com/q3bhgdeor to Purchase from the CreateSpace eStore:https://www.createspace.com/3824548

 

Buy Pets and Afterlife,Support Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

A portion of the profits go to Best Friends

In November I contacted Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah about my book "Pets and the Afterlife." I have donated to the animal sanctuary for some time, and was amazed and overwhelmed with their response to saving pets after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Louisiana and surrounding communities.(Being a meteorologist it was even more amazing because these volunteers basically went into what looked like a war zone after Katrina passed through).
   I signed a one-year agreement with Best Friends to provide a percentage of profits from the sale of my paperback books done through the publisher's website (Createspace) to give back to them. So I'm a "A Best Friends Business Supporter." 
  So if you want to support Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and want to read my book - you can do both by ordering it directly through CreateSpace here:  
https://www.createspace.com/4720493
 

Pets and the Afterlife

ABOUT BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY: Best Friends Animal Society, founded in its present form in 1991, is an located in Southwestern Utah in Angel Canyon (formerly Kanab Canyon) near Kanab. Best Friends works nationwide in outreach programs with shelters, other rescue groups and members to promote pet adoption and spay-and-neuter services.  The sanctuary is on 3,700 acres (15 km²) with an additional 33,000 acres (130 km²) leased from the United States Bureau of Land Management near Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon's North Rim, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Lake Powell. 
American nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization. It is a no-kill shelter
Best Friends' Website: http://bestfriends.org/
DONATE DIRECTLY, VOLUNTEER, GET INVOLVED: http://bestfriends.org/Get-Involved/

Part 3: Q&A from Anne Marie with Rob Gutro, Author/Medium/Ghost Tracker

Back in September I gave a talk at a VFW post and there were both ghosts and spirits there. I received a lot of great questions from Anne Marie C. after she read the blog post I wrote about it, and this is part 3 of that Q and A:
Q:  What are angels?

A:  Angels are positive spirits. Some were human others life forms from other worlds.

Q: Or for that matter, demons? I recently spoke with someone (a very trustworthy, well educated, and spiritual person) who shared with me that since she was a child, she’s been able to see demons. She’s been able to learn how to deal with it, and hasn’t seen any for a few years (i.e., she doesn’t see them all the time like you see spirits), but even at one point, was able to see them battling above her. Her husband  cannot see them, but can sense them. 

A: Demons are not the religious entities they're depicted as. Because the universe is so vast there's obviously life on other worlds. I believe demons to be the energies/entities of deceased life forms from other worlds who have never seen humans and are simply hostile to them, like wild animals that feel threatened or scared. Entities from other worlds can easily get here, just as our spirits can get to other worlds- it's all about energy, movement, etc. Light moves at 186,000 miles per second.... and I believe that other worldly entities can do the same thing and come to Earth. Because we don't recognize them, we call them "demons."

Mom's spirit visits Over Thanksgiving Weekend

After Thanksgiving the issue of what to do creatively with leftover turkey is always a challenge. This year, I  did a couple of things and was inspired by my mom (who passed in Dec. 2013). Well, it turned out she made an appearance this holiday weekend, too.
1) Gave leftovers to our guests 

Turkey Soup slow cooking in a crock pot

2) Turkey Pizza!  Whenever I make homemade spaghetti sauce (it always includes turkey meatballs) I freeze the extra. So, used the sauce and meatballs on a (store bought) pizza bread, and shredded leftover turkey on it (We don't use cheese because I'm lactose intolerant, and it's just fat we don't need).  It was delicious!  (There are no pictures of it because when it was ready, we ate it! :) 
3) Made homemade turkey soup with the leftover drippings. After Thanksgiving dinner I put the drippings in a container and put them in the refrigerator. My mom taught me to do that, so I could scrape the fat off the top (fat rises to the top). On Sunday I put the rest of the drippings in a crock pot, shredded leftover turkey, added corn, carrots, and seasonings and let it simmer for about  5 hours. After refrigerating it, the next day I added noodles to complete the soup. 

SPIRIT VISIT! - It's interesting how spirits work. When I was in the kitchen and waiting for the soup to cool, I suddenly thought of my mom and dad's house. A moment later, the cable music channel I was listening to started playing Dolly Parton's "Here you come again," which was my mom's favorite song by Dolly.  - It always brought back a memory to my mom  and I - of the time we heard the song in 1978 and were sitting down and started slapping each other's knees and clapping hands to the song. So, mom was indeed in the kitchen tonight when I was making turkey soup!

Gift Ideas for the Holidays: Medium Readings and Book Readings!

If you or someone you know lost someone they love recently or many years ago, why not give the gift of Spirit this year? 
  There are 2 Types of "Reading" you can give- one by a professional psychic medium like Ruthie Larkin or Barb Mallon - or one of my books about how ghosts and spirits communicate with the living. 

Medium Ruthie Larkin

  Here are the details on all of them!






1) Give a Gift of a Psychic Reading or a Reiki Healing Session with Medium Ruthie Larkin (the Beantown Medium):  Gift certificates are available for private sessions: http://www.beantownmedium.com/

Medium Barb Mallon

2) Give a Gift of a Psychic Reading with Medium Barb Mallon at  http://www.barbmallon.com/
For Gift Certificates: http://www.barbmallon.com/#!store/ctm6

3) Or any of Rob Gutro's books on Spirits and Ghosts:  http://www.amazon.com - Rob Gutro's Author Page
a) Pets and the Afterlife (2014) - How pets communicate from the other side, and why they're able to see spirits, a dog's ghost investigation, 3 mediums and their spirit dog communications and more
b) Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead (2012) - Answers to questions you may

Author/medium Rob Gutro

have about how spirits and ghosts communicate; the author's experiences on ghost investigations (with picture proof of a ghost); An amazing treasure-hunt like journey in Mediumship proving messages and more
c) Ghosts and Spirits (2010) - The author's first book. Journey with him as he begins developing his abilities in haunted places, and messages from his dad's spirit and his puppy's spirit and more. 

Part 2: Q&A from Anne Marie for Rob Gutro, Medium/Author/Ghost Tracker

Back in September I gave a talk at a VFW post and there were both ghosts and spirits there. I received a lot of great questions from Anne Marie C. after she read the blog post I wrote about it, and this is part 1 of that Q and A:
Q: Can you see whether the spirit is a positive or negative energy?

A: Good question. I can't see the negative or positive energy, but I feel it. Negative energy- such as that emitted by an Earth-bound ghost with a bad attitude, makes me nervous and anxious and even light-headed. Positive energy has no effect on me because it's just like another person walking into the room. I just want to know who they are and why they're there. 

 

Q:  What about the headaches you get? Those were so prevalent during your UK journeys. Does that often come from positive or negative spiritual energy, or does it not matter?

 

A: The headaches are dull aches in the back of my head. I've read that others get the same Exact kind of dull headache in the presence of a ghost or spirit.  It doesn't matter if the energy is a ghost (negative emotional energy) or a spirit (positive emotional energy)- the headache is the same, and it just indicates there's an energy in the room - which could be either entity.

 

Q: Why are they hanging around, still? If they’ve passed onto the next life, would they still be there?

 

A: The spirits that came in were just that- spirits that crossed over. There were no Earth-bound ghosts in the room, but there were a couple in the back rooms!  The meeting was held in an old VFW post, and there are some veterans who have passed that never wanted to leave the happiness of their hall, where they met all of their fellow veterans. 

 

Q:  How are you able to tell the difference between a spirit and an earth bound ghost? Are those that are earth bound sad?

 

A: It's more of an intuitive feeling when it comes to knowing if they're ghost or spirit. At the VFW post where I gave a presentation there was an older veteran who was in fact a ghost. After he died he decided that he wanted to stay at the VFW because that was his second "home."  There was also the spirit of a young vet who visited (the one I mentioned earlier who died in Afghanistan).  I really just know...

 

Q: Can you help them to pass on to the next life? Do they have to be willing?

 

A: I have helped quite a few ghosts cross over - it takes a lot of energy and concentration. However, they DO need to be willing or be convinced. I've had to work with my friend and medium Troy C. to convince quite a few ghosts to cross over. Sadly, there are a couple that refuse to go. In one instance ghosts of two murdered women in a home who insisted on staying to protect families that move in the house. In another instance a woman who lived in a  mansion (now historic place) and loved it so much she didn't ever want to leave and still doesn't!

 

NEXT: Angels and Demons

Thanksgiving Means Those Who Passed Still Sit at the Table

Thanksgiving is not only a big holiday for the living relatives in families, but it also tends to be one of those times when those who passed come to visit, too. Any holiday, special occasion, birthday or anniversary are typically times that spirits of loved ones (who crossed into the light) come to visit us.

  Why do they come on Thanksgiving?  Think about it. Spirits are just the souls of relatives who passed. Like living people, they enjoy gathering with family members and what better time to see everyone together than at Thanksgiving?
  So, this Thanksgiving, if you've lost a loved one, be on the lookout for signs. Whether you find a penny on the kitchen floor, or your electricity does funny things, or you hear a song on the radio that reminds you of your loved one- those are just some signs they can give.
  One Thanksgiving some years ago, my friend Lynn's late brother came to me with signs that she was able to confirm. So, enjoy the day knowing that ALL of your relatives are around you.
  Happy Thanksgiving!
Rob

You can find more information about the signs spirits can give in my book "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead":    SUMMARY: Follow Rob on a treasure-hunt-style journey in Virginia as he and others try to explain what appear to be random and obscure words, signs and symbols from a spirit, that all wind up being intensely personal to the spirit.Explore the science behind how they communicate. Learn how to receive their messages, where they appear, and important messages in how to live your life. Rob takes you into cemeteries, battlefields, and historic places. You’ll see what happens to victims of suicide and murders, and how infants and animals pass messages to the living. Featuring: Inspired Ghost Tracking and mediums Barb Mallon, Troy Cline and Ruth Larkin. 

Psychic Source.com Interviews Rob Gutro, Author of 'Pets and the Afterlife

 

Check out the Psychic Source Facebook page to win your own copy of 'Pets and the Afterlife' by Rob Gutro.

Psychic Source.com Interviews   Rob Gutro, Author of 'Pets and the Afterlife'
Source: http://www.psychicsource.com/article/loss-grieving/interview-with-rob-gutro-author-of-pets-and-the-afterlife/7246

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Rob Gutro, author of Pets and the Afterlife (win a free copy--see details below), is not your typical psychic medium. He's a meteorologist who's decided to use his psychic abilities to help comfort those grieving from the loss of a pet. Rob's still working on mastering the ropes of the spirit world, but his goal is to help as many people as possible in the process. He's not a Psychic Source Advisor, but we believe our community can learn a lot from his expertise and warm heart.

 




When did you first realize you could communicate with the other side and what was that experience like?

The experience was startling. I was 13 years old and saw my grandfather materialize.

I was home alone, sitting at the kitchen table drawing, when I saw lights out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and two rooms away in the living room, the lights came together and formed my grandfather in full color. I grabbed the family dog and ran outside where I sat on the stairs for an hour until my parents came home from shopping. My mother wasn’t surprised at all—she had the gift, too. It turned out that my grandfather appeared during the month of his birthday, which is a common time for spirits to communicate.

Why do only some pets come through or send signs while other don’t? What would you tell someone who is desperately trying to reach their pet on the other side to no avail?

Pets, like people, only come through when they have something to tell us. People and pets usually return around the times of birthdays, anniversaries or holidays. They all give us signs—we just miss them—so I wrote the books to educate people on how to see them!

Grief blocks out signs. When we’re desperate to see something, we tend to dismiss things for something more "concrete." Spirits and ghosts use subtle signs because it takes a lot of energy for them to communicate. If people are sick with grief, that's when they should rely on a medium. They should also take comfort in knowing spirits come around from time to time, they're not always with us. They don't belong here because they're beings of energy.

Your book goes into detail about what a pet’s ashes can do. Could you explain this briefly?

Sure. In Pets and the Afterlife, I explain that ashes can act as somewhat of a draw to help bring pets (and people) to you. The physical remains, even ashes, hold residual energy. It's all a good thing because the love we share with them is a positive emotional energy and helps them "power up" to give us signs from time to time.

I will caution that if a relative you weren’t fond of passed and you have their ashes, you may want to bury them! People who were not nice in life are often not the nicest on the other side, although they do usually learn their lessons there and improve. ?

What’s the difference between spirits and ghosts?

This is my favorite question. The words are often used to mean the same thing but they're really not. When we pass, the physical energies that run through our bodies couple with our memories and personalities as an entity of energy. Then we make a conscious choice to stay here on Earth as a ghost, or cross over and join the energies of the universe/Heaven/Valhalla/Paradise (whatever you want to call it) as a spirit.

Both use the same physical energies to manifest or give signs: heat, light, water, electricity. Ghosts draw on negative emotional energy—fear, anxiety, depression, and anger—which doesn't mean a ghost is a bad personality; it's all about location. Spirits draw on positive emotional energy—love, faith and hope—to "power up" and communicate.

Rob is a member of Inspired Ghost Tracking

It’s very interesting that you’re both a meteorologist and a medium. In your bio, it says that you “provide scientific and logical explanations about spirit communications.” Can you give us an example of how this applies? 
You don't have to be a religious person to know there's an afterlife; all you need is science. The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed. Think of how scientists measure the thoughts in our brains with little electrical impulses. Think of the energy of the blood pumping in our bodies. Where does the energy go after our bodies give out?  It couples with our memories and personalities to become a ghost or spirit.

As energy, spirits and ghosts can manipulate electricity. We detect them with scientific equipment like electromagnetic field detectors, digital recorders, infrared cameras, and digital thermometers. As energy, they draw energy even from the fast moving molecules of air (warm air) and take the kinetic energy (motion) to slow down those molecules (slower moving molecules of air are colder; that's why we feel "cold spots" whenever there's a ghost or spirit around). Further, we use digital recorders to pick up spirit voices that are at a higher frequency—a frequency that dogs and cats can hear.

I think it's a matter of time until science actually catches up to the paranormal and proves that it's "normal" for us to become entities of energy after we pass from the physical.

What’s one of the most memorable moments you’ve had or felt while connecting with one of your dogs in the afterlife?

After my late dachshund Sprite passed in 2013, he sent us a butterfly. Spirits have the ability to manipulate and influence things in nature, like birds, butterflies, feathers, flowers, etc.   

All summer long, we hadn't seen a butterfly in our backyard, despite having two butterfly bushes. However, after Sprite's passing when we let our other three dogs out in the backyard, a large yellow and black butterfly flew around them for quite a long time and they didn't chase after it (usually they would). The butterfly landed on the grass near them and sat (I took several close up photos of it). The dogs walked around it, as if they were walking around Sprite.  We knew Sprite sent the butterfly.

When I wrote about it later on my personal blog, two friends in different states got a visit from Sprite as they read about his butterfly on their IPads while sitting outside. As they were reading, a yellow and black butterfly landed on them—in Maryland on my friend Jill's stomach, and in New Mexico on my friend Layla's shoulder. They contacted me immediately and told me Sprite's spirit had just visited them and acknowledged that they were reading about him.

What advice would you give someone who can’t seem to grapple with the loss of a pet or find closure?

Know that they are around you. Close your eyes and know that the love we share binds us together forever. Love is an amazing energy and energy can't be destroyed. Keep your mind open, too. Don't discount anything that may be a sign because there's no such thing as a coincidence when it comes to spirit.

Pets, like people who pass, don't want us to be stuck in grief. Although grieving is a natural part of experiencing physical loss, it should not cripple you and prevent you from enjoying life and love.  Our late pets (and people) want us to be happy, to live our lives and to help other pets who don't have homes or the love that our late pets enjoyed. One of the best ways to pay tribute to a pet that passed is to adopt or foster another and give that pet a chance to experience love (and not waste the love you have to give).

---

Barb Mallon's Event: HOLIDAY MESSAGES FROM SPIRIT! 12/13/14

My friend and medium Barb Mallon is holding a special event and it's a great gift to give people missing someone (in spirit) on the holidays. (sadly, I'm unable to attend). Barb says there are limited seats (just 30). 
 
HOLIDAY MESSAGES FROM SPIRIT!Saturday, Dec. 13
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Chantilly, VA

 

Do you have family in town for the holidays?  Looking for something unique to do?

 

Join medium Barb Mallon for a very special afternoon of inspiration, validations, and messages from loved ones on the other side!   

This event will also benefit a local animal no kill animal shelter, Friends of Homeless Animals  (FOHA).  Bring something from the list on the event page and get a discount on the ticket price!   We will have special reserved seating for this event - FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!  *Please register accordingly when checking out.

This event is much like Barb's larger mediumship events; however, instead of an audience of 60 or more, only 30 seats will be available.  This gives participants a better chance of having their own special reading.  We may also have a few of Barb's mediumship students present who may have extra messages at the end of the evening!

This very intimate setting is a wonderful way to experience the process of mediumship through possibly your own reading or through the readings of others*.   Barb will start with a small talk and after the break will relay messages from the other side and guides to those members of the audience she's pulled to. She then finishes with a small Q & A session.

Medium Barb Mallon

Barb strives to get to as many members of the audience that she can get to* during this event; however, keep in mind that those spirit people with the most dominant energy are the ones who will be able to come through. While she will do her best to keep the readings equal lengths, some spirit people have more to say than others. Some readings may be 5 minutes, while others may be a bit longer. 

Please join Barb after the Q&A session for an intimate reception with holiday refreshments, music and tables of holiday gifts for purchase!  Barb will have NEW pieces of her hand-crafted sterling silver jewelry for sale, as well!  To purchase Tickets to Barb's Event: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-messages-from-spirit-tickets-14297140131?ref=ebtnebtckt
   

PROGRAM: 

4:00 - 4:30 - Introduction

4:45 - 6:00 - Audience readings/Q&A 

6:00 - 7:00 - Holiday refreshments & gift tables

Pets and the Afterlife: Research: Brain Scans Reveal What Dogs Really Think of Us

In my book "Pets and the Afterlife" I explained how dogs learn and behave just like human children, and are thus able to communicate with us from the other side. One of the scientific studies I included in the book was from Hungary.
  In Budapest, researchers at Eotvos Lorand University studied canine brain activity in response to different human and dog sounds, including voices, barks and the meaningful grunts and sighs both species emit. Before this study, we had no idea what happens inside canine brains when humans make noise.
   Here's the article that goes in depth on the study, and also mentions the other study I referenced in the book (from Emory University) that showed similar results.

Brain Scans Reveal What Dogs Really Think of Us

This partner story is part of BrainMic, a collaboration with GE to share the latest advances in brain research and technology.

http://mic.com/articles/104474/brain-scans-reveal-what-dogs-really-think-of-us 

We love our dogs.

In the 30,000 years humans and dogs have lived together, man's best friend has only become a more popular and beloved pet. Today, dogs are a fixture in almost 50% of American households.
From the way dogs thump their tails, invade our laps and steal our pillows, it certainly seems like they love us back. But since dogs can't tell us what's going on inside their furry heads, can we ever be sure?
Actually, yes. Thanks to recent developments in brain imaging technology, we're starting to get a better picture of the happenings inside the canine cranium.
That's right — scientists are actually studying the brains of dogs. And what the studies show is welcome news for all dog owners: Not only do dogs seem to love us back, they actually see us as their family. It turns out that dogs rely on humans more than they do their own kind for affection, protection and everything in between.

• 

  Dogs line up for an MRI Scan

Dogs gathered around MRI scanner MR Research Center in Budapest. Image Credit: Borbala Ferenczy
The most direct brain-based evidence that dogs are hopelessly devoted to humans comes from a recent neuroimaging study about odor processing in the dog brain. Animal cognition scientists at Emory University trained dogs to lie still in an MRI machine and used fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) to measure their neural responses to the smell of people and dogs, both familiar and unknown. Because dogs navigate the world through their noses, the way they process smell offers a lot of potential insight into social behavior.
The scientists found that dog owners' aroma actually sparked activation in the "reward center" of their brains, called the caudate nucleus. Of all the wafting smells to take in, dogs actually prioritized the hint of humans over anything or anyone else.
These results jive with other canine neuroimaging research. In Budapest, researchers at Eotvos Lorand University studied canine brain activity in response to different human and dog sounds, including voices, barks and the meaningful grunts and sighs both species emit. Before this study, we had no idea what happens inside canine brains when humans make noise.
Among other surprising findings, the study revealed marked similarities in the way dog and human brains process emotionally laden vocal sounds. Researchers found that happy sounds in particular light up the auditory cortex in both species. This commonality speaks to the uniquely strong communication system underlying the dog-human bond.
In short: Dogs don't just seem to pick up on our subtle mood changes — they are actually physically wired to pick up on them.
"It's very interesting to understand the tool kit that helps such successful vocal communication between two species," Attila Andics, a neuroscientist and lead author of the study, told Mic. "We didn't need neuroimaging to see that communication works [between dogs and people], but without it, we didn't understand why it works. Now we're really starting to."

Dog in an MRI

Dog waiting to be scanned at MR Research Center in Budapest. Image Credit: Borbala Ferenczy.
Behavior research supports the recent neuroscience too. According to Andics, dogs interact with their human caregivers in the same way babies do their parents. When dogs are scared or worried, they run to their owners, just as distressed toddlers make a beeline for their parents. This is in stark contrast to other domesticated animals: Petrified cats, as well as horses, will run away.
Dogs are also the only non-primate animal to look people in the eyes. This is something Andics, along with other researchers, discovered about a decade ago when he studied the domestication of wolves, which he thought would share that trait. They endeavored to raise wolves like dogs. This is a unique behavior between dogs and humans — dogs seek out eye contact from people, but not their biological dog parents.
"Bonding with owners is much more important for dogs than other pets," said Andics.

Image Credit: Getty
Scientists have also looked at the dog-human relationship from the other direction. As it turns out, people reciprocate dogs' strong feelings. In a study published in PLOS One in October, Massachusetts General Hospital researchers measured human brain activity in response to photos of dogs and children. Study participants were women who'd had dogs and babies for at least two years. Both types of photos sparked activity in brain regions associated with emotion, reward, affiliation, visual processing and social interaction. Basically, both furry and (typically) less-furry family members make us equally happy.

Credit: Getty Images

Dog-lovers have committed a few notable gaffes in interpreting dogs' facial expressions, e.g., assuming the often-documented hangdog look signifies guilt, an emotion that, most behavior experts agree, requires a multifaceted notion of self-awareness that dogs probably don't have.
But, as with family, our instinctive hunches about dog behavior are often correct.
"Sometimes our intuition about what's going on inside dogs' heads is dead-on," said Laurie Santos, the lead researcher at Yale's Canine Cognition Center. "Like, that dogs are seeking out help from us — and that's true based on studies — which is different from even their closest relatives, wolves."
The precise wish or worry lurking in a dog's doleful look may not always be clear. But we can relish the fact that we know our pets love us as much as we hoped, maybe even more. Even if they're not full-fledged children, they see us as family. And to us? Well, they'll always be our babies.

FOR THE BOOK "PETS and the AFTERLIFE SUMMARY: To lose a pet means to lose a child. The love we share with our pets never dies, and the author proves our pets do communicate with us from the other side.
    Learn how dogs, cats, horses and some birds have the intelligence and ability to send signs to the living after they pass.
    Take comfort in knowing our pets are around us from time to time and recognize the signs they give. Learn how they wait for us when it’s our time, what a pet’s ashes can do, and the difference between ghosts and spirits. Learn how and why living pets can sense entities. Follow one of the author's dogs on a ghost investigation.
   Read how spirits of the author’s 2 dogs and dogs from three other mediums communicated with them from the other side. Read about spirit cats and how a ghostly dog rescued a girl.
    The author also volunteers for Dachshund and Weimaraner rescues and has several dogs. 
ON AMAZON in PAPERBACK AND KINDLE: Click here for Amazon Link to book