Introduction : We have studied and reported the effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on older adults (2025, The 8th Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy Congress). Among the activities examined, a dog command task was found to activate the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R-dlPFC), which is essential for activities of daily living (ADL). However, substantial individual differences in activation levels were observed.
Objectives : This study aimed to clarify the factors contributing to individual differences in frontal lobe activity during the dog command task.
Methods : Among 26 healthy older adults (aged 65+), we analyzed one participant with the highest and one with the lowest R-dlPFC activation during the task. Data included video recordings and Oxy-Hb concentrations, an indicator of frontal lobe activity, measured using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). Video analysis focused on (i) which frontal lobe region was most active and (ii) the participant’s behavior at peak activation.
Results : The participant with high R-dlPFC activation had the dog respond directly to their verbal commands. In contrast, the participant with low activation observed the dog responding only to pointing commands given by the trainer assisting the task. Additionally, the left frontal pole showed the highest activation when the dog received praise from both the participant and those nearby after completing the task.
Conclusion : These findings suggest that interaction style significantly influences brain activity in AAT. Careful task design based on targeted brain regions may enhance therapeutic effectiveness, emphasizing the potential for individualized interventions.