- Research has shown that pet robot penguins help reduce stress levels, like owning a dog
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Robots really could be man's best friend, a study shows.
People who lived with a pet-like robot for two months had less stress, similar to the benefits of having a dog.
“A robot can have an effect comparable to that of animal therapy,” the researchers say in the journal iScience.
They used a robot that resembles a small penguin, which has two feet and the same body temperature as humans.
When his belly is stroked, he slowly closes his eyes and makes a breathing sound. When his nose is pressed, his body trembles and he laughs.
People who lived with a pet-like robot for two months had less stress, similar to the benefits of having a dog (file photo of robot dog toy)
He follows the owner with a camera and moves his hand to ask for a hug. It can also make eye contact and communicates with seal-like sounds.
The researchers from Jichi Medical University in Japan found that levels of oxytocin, the 'cuddle hormone', were 2.2 times higher in robot owners.
Also, cortisol levels, a hormone marker for increased stress, were twice as high in non-robot owners.
Just 15 minutes with a robot reduces cortisol levels in owners and non-owners.
The study shows that the use of social robots could be an alternative to animal-assisted therapy in the treatment of depression and alcoholism due to the risk of infections and allergies.
“A robot can have an effect comparable to that of animal therapy,” the researchers say in the journal iScience (stock photo)