ASK BARDO Q&A! Q: Is the reason why dogs act aggressively towards people who fear them or behave nastily neuroscience — or is something else going on?

Georgina Brown (hershe)
Sep 4
2 min read

A: Great question. And the short answer?

Yes. mirror neurons, the amygdala and a whole lot more… you’re absolutely barking up the right neurological tree!

Let’s break it down:

1. Mirror Neurons:

Mirror neurons fire both when we perform an action and when we observe someone else doing it. They're the biological basis of empathy — and they’re not just a human thing. Dogs are masters at reading subtle cues: posture, scent, muscle tension, eye movement, voice tone. If you’re scared, tense, or angry, your dog isn't just watching — they’re feeling it through attunement. That’s mirror neurons at work. You're radiating "threat" and they’re syncing up to that energy, fast.

2. Amygdala Hijack (Yours and Theirs):

When you're afraid of a dog, your amygdala (the brain’s threat-detection system) lights up. This sets off a chain of hormonal changes — your body stiffens, your breathing alters, cortisol spikes. The dog picks all of that up like Wi-Fi. And their amygdala? Now also on red alert.

Cue growling, barking, or backing off — classic fight-or-flight behaviour.

They’re not being “mean.” They’re just responding to the environment their brain thinks it’s in.

3. Inter-species Emotional Contagion:

Yes, it’s a thing. Emotional states can “leap” from one mammal to another. It’s not mind reading, it’s biology. Dogs are especially good at this because they’ve evolved alongside humans for thousands of years. They know when your vibe’s off.

So what does this mean?

The brain-state you’re in affects the brain-state they move into. It’s a two-way street.

Inclusion-wise, this is exactly what happens in human interactions, too.

If you show up tense, judgmental, fearful, or defensive — other people (and dogs) sense that. Not through logic, but through limbic resonance. That’s why creating psychological safety — for both species — starts with our own nervous system.

NeuroNudge: Regulate Yourself First

Before trying to calm others (human or canine), take a deep breath. Regulate your own fear.That simple pause shifts your brain out of the amygdala and into the prefrontal cortex — the home of logic, empathy, and connection. (Yes, dogs notice that energy too.)

ASK BARDO!

Want to ask your own neuroscience & inclusion question?

Email us at georgina@bardo.co.uk or DM on LinkedIn — we’ll decode the brain one quirky question at a time.