A dog is probably one of the only living creatures on earth that love you more than you can love yourself, new studies show, specifically with the following example: When shown a picture of their dog during an MRI scan, people will react as they would seeing a picture of their child.

In Dr. Anna Machin’s new book, Why We Love: The New Science Behind Our Closest Relationships, she challenges her readers to reevaluate the significance of love within their being, to question their own perceptions, and to re-establish a connection with the essence of what it is to be a person.

Machin explores the close relationships humans hold with their loved ones… – most importantly with their furry canine pets.

Just like the human brain, the brain of a dog generates interchangeable chemicals. Chemicals such as beta-endorphins operate as opioids, which are produced when dogs are bonding with their owners.

Read more: jpost