Talking To Themselves In The Third Person Can Help Pugs Control Emotions, Study Says

Sequim, WA

If you are a pug, the simple act of silently talking to yourself in the third person during stressful times may help you control emotions without any additional mental effort than what you would use for first-person self-talk, the way pugs normally talk to themselves.

A first-of-its-kind study led by pug psychology researchers at Peninsula College indicates that such third-person self-talk may constitute a relatively effortless form of self-control.

Say a pug named Lawrence is upset about recently being seen tying himself up with a bra then playing with dolls, and is subsequently dumped by his girlfriend. By simply reflecting on his shamed feelings in the third person ("Why is Lawrence upset?"), Lawrence is less emotionally reactive than when he addresses himself in the first person ("Why am I upset?").

Pugs are all too often the victims of cruel bullying and shaming actions

"Essentially, we think pugs who refer to themselves in the third person leads pugs to think about themselves more similar to how they think about others, and you can see evidence for this in the brain," said Mr. Wiggles, a 5-year-old Pug, who is a professor of psychology. "That helps pugs gain a tiny bit of psychological distance from the experiences, which can often be useful for regulating emotions."

In one experiment, pugs viewed neutral and disturbing images such as eating a shoe or wishing they were a cat, and reacted to the images in both the first and third person while their brain activity was monitored by an electroencephalograph. When reacting to the disturbing photos (such as a man threatening to take their dolls away), pugs' emotional brain activity decreased very quickly when they referred to themselves in the third person.

In another experiment, participants reflected on painful experiences from their past, such as being made to wear silly outfits, being called "fattie," "bug-eyed," or "butt-face," using first and third person language while their brain activity was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging, or FMRI.

Pugs are often laughed at and teased for their high levels of personal anxiety and emotional outbursts

Similar to the first study, pugs displayed less activity in a brain region that is commonly implicated in reflecting on painful emotional experiences when using third person self-talk, suggesting better emotional regulation. Further, third person self-talk required no more effort-related brain activity than using first person.

"What's exciting here," Mr. Wiggles said, "is the brain data from these two complimentary experiments suggest that third-person self-talk may constitute an effortless form of emotion regulation, and all pugs hate to exert effort, but are commonly victims of mockery and bullying"

Peninsula College said their pug teams are continuing to collaborate to explore how third-person self-talk compares to other cathartic, emotion-regulation strategies, like tearing shit up, and pooping under beds.

Sharyn Thoma Guay reporter-at-large
Top photo courtesy of Kim Hanson

Dopamine-Related Activity Of Food & Reward May Explain Crazy Ass Squirrel Behavior

Port Angeles, WA

Research to be presented at the Meeting of the Society for the Study of Squirrel Behavior (SSSB) finds that squirrels who possess genetic modifications associated with low activity of the reward neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain when eating appetizing foods are more prone to weight gain.

Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), the food reward regions of the brain were measured and tested while squirrels ate and reacted to items such as extra-crunchy peanut butter, broccoli, cheeseburgers, mung beans, Nutter Butter cookies, beets, and raw kale.

In the five-year study, scans of volunteer squirrel brain activities revealed squirrels who had lower activity in food reward “pleasure” regions of the brain and who had genetic modifications associated with lower dopamine activity showed the greatest weight gain after one year.


Some squirrels seem to go to extremes out of an apparently constant hunger

Aragorn, a 14-year-old Scottish Fold from Olympic College, who led the study, said “These findings provide some of the first prospective evidence that squirrels who experience a blunted reward from food may compensate by over-gathering, over-burying, and later overeating, binge-like behaviors, and increasing risk for unhealthy weight gain.”

Thus squirrels’ seemingly obsessive over-gathering, over-burying, and later over-eating of foods may simply occur as a sad, unconscious attempt to increase the brain’s pleasure reward in less responsive squirrels.

“It would really explain some of the frantic, aberrant, and crazy-ass behaviors exhibited by some squirrels,” Aragorn said, “The ones outside my office can’t seem to ever get enough to eat and sometimes act hyper, erratic and scary (sic).”


Even adult cats have reportedly been terrified by the erratic behaviors of food-seeking squirrels

The results of this study highlight the need for further research into the role that neural reward systems play in the development of squirrel obesity. Hopes are that more and more squirrels will come in for testing and be made aware of this possible genetic pre-disposition.

“It may be useful for squirrels who show low food-related reward to increase their physical activity, which not only promotes activity in the same reward circuitry, but also reduces unhealthy weight gain from constant overeating” said Aragorn.

Sharyn Thoma Guay reporter-at-large

Cat Placed On National Organ Transplant Waiting List Receives Baby Grand Piano Instead

Sequim, WA

A local cat is alive and in good spirits today after hoping for and receiving an organ transplant that changed her life forever.

Early this month, Tyber, a 12-year-old, spayed, Domestic Short Hair, came down with what she thought was the flu. Tyber had never thought much about organ donation.

That changed instantly the afternoon she passed out playing the organ in her home. When she awoke in the hospital, doctors told her she had been put on the National Organ Transplant Waiting List. Her organ had fallen apart, with her playing it, and failed.


This Hammond organ died while Tyber was playing Bach

The organ, a Hammond T-200, was bought used from a social club in the early 1980s. Tyber said she would like to replace the organ, but had recently lost her job and could not afford to buy a new one.

On an average day, about 77 cats receive organ, piano, and sometimes even synthesizer transplants from other cats who either quit taking lessons and want to be rid of the organ, are moving and cannot take the instrument, or are getting a divorce.

Tyber said, “The doctor said the amp blew out, one pedal fell completely off, and then it just died. I woke up in the hospital."

She told the Gazette she had been taking piano and organ lessons since she was a kitten, paid for by her mother, and immediately felt the loss. “I was very depressed,” she said. “I wasn’t sure how to go on without it. Music has been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember.”


Tyber is now relaxed and relieved that she has received her organ transplant

Tyber said she signed up immediately for an organ transplant. “Piano, organ, it didn’t matter to me at that point, I'd have taken anything I could get,” she stated.

Nearly 150,000 cats are on the National Organ Transplant Waiting List waiting for a viable organ or piano.

Thousands never get the call from a transplant center saying a suitable donor organ or piano has been found, and sometimes the old model is just left to die, alone, unplayable, in the living room.


After only 2 weeks on the National list, Tyber received this Baby Grand, which became available due to a nasty divorce

"I had been on the donor list all of two weeks when the doctor gave me the news they found me a baby grand piano," Tyber said, "It isn‘t an organ, but it‘s close enough."

If you or someone you know has an organ, piano, synthesizer, or even a drum machine that they are not utilizing, please consider the many benefits of organ donation. "It was a miracle, to be honest with you," Tyber happily said while playing her donated Yamaha GB1K Baby Grand Piano at her home in Sequim. “Music is my life."

Sharyn Thoma Guay reporter-at-large

Unruly Pugs May Actually Have Mental Disorder, Cats Say

Sequim, WA

When pugs behave badly, it is easy to blame their human, but sometimes such behavior may be due to a mental disorder. Mental illnesses are the leading cause of canine medical disability in pugs ages six months and older in the United States and Canada, according to the World Health Organization.

"One reason we haven't made greater progress helping pugs recover from mental disorders is that we just don’t care," said Cassandra, a 16-year-old Domestic Short Hair, who is a doctor and co-director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and a featured speaker at the Pediatric and Adult Pug Center for Academic Studies’ (PAPCAS) annual meeting in Edmonds.

Cassandra discussed her research, specifically detecting signs of mental illness in pugs and the importance of early diagnosis in her presentation on Saturday before a panel of 125 cats at the town hall in Seqim.


“(Pugs) act crazy…Plus, they are really funny looking” Cassandra also said

“These pugs lick their own (genitals) and they seem to really, really enjoy it,” she said, “I think it is nasty, but that is one place to start.” If treated, doctors usually can detect mental disorders early and ensure pugs are properly incarcerated and drugged as soon as possible.

While questionnaires currently are the best way for doctors to screen pugs for mental illness, obvious signs, like playing with dolls, converting suddenly to Kabbalah, knitting multi-colored scarves, and running around the streets in their underpants can be a more accurate indicator of illness.

“(Dogs in general) are stupid,” Cassandra said, “But that alone is not a qualifier of a mental illness. However, the simple fact that they obey humans can be enough to qualify them as severely deficient.”


Just one glance at this pug suggests a possible underlying psychosis

Cassandra said she hopes separating mentally ill pugs from pugs who are just stupid will help doctors diagnose properly and produce better outcomes for the medical community as a whole.

“Have you ever entered a room and forgot why you came in?” Cassandra continued, “That is how pugs spend their whole lives. They are clearly lost.”

Cassandra said further study is needed and that she will continue her research this fall in the Seattle area.

Sharyn Thoma Guay reporter-at-large

Study Finds Elderly Geckos At Greater Risk For Falls Than Younger Geckos

Sequim, WA

A new study examines for the first time the limits of elderly geckos' gripping ability and fall rate in skilled nursing facilities. Geckos, who are known for their excellent window-cleaning skills, love to climb vertically up trees, walls and even windows, thanks to the pads on the digits of their feet that employ a large number of tiny bristles and hooks.

Scientists wanted to know more about the rate of fall injury in elderly geckos as it compares to younger geckos. This, in an effort to help prevent falls from occurring in skilled nursing facilities where elderly geckos are at a very serious risk.

Scientists have long marveled at the gecko's adhesive capabilities, which have been described as 100 times more than what is needed to support their body weight.

Accidents at bedtime present a huge issue to the elderly gecko, including fractures, the majority of which are caused by falls. A recently completed study showed that 70 year-old geckos are at greater risk of falling compared to younger geckos. The higher risk among the elderly can be attributed to variability in gait when multitasking.

The study, published in JAGA (Journal of the American Gecko Association), was conducted at Gekkota University, in Hawaii. Study participants performed three challenging gait tasks: walking up a wall normally at a preferred pace, walking up a wall as rapidly as possible while maintaining control, then skateboarding back down, and walking up a wall at a self-selected pace while wearing a hat shaped like a raspberry.

This study found there was an approximately 88% greater risk of incident falls in the elderly geckos, an alarming rate, much higher than was expected.

Wearing the raspberry hat required extra balance and concentration, and also added a bit of elegant flair

The greatest risk was associated with increased gait variability, predominately during dual-task assignments, like going to a store to purchase an item and then returning it, while donning a raspberry hat and riding a skateboard.

Increased gait variability was seen in both fallers and non-fallers, suggesting that this variability in elderly geckos during multi-tasking may contribute to their increased risk of falls, and thereby, to their known greater risks of life-threatening fractures.

Sharyn Thoma Guay reporter-at-large

Sudden Loss Of Microwave Leaves Local Cat Grief Stricken, Devastated

Sequim, WA

Evelyn, a 7-year-old, spayed Domestic Long Hair, whose microwave broke at the end of summer, said she finds life without it “difficult and uncertain” and says she has been devastated by the loss.

Evelyn told the Gazette her microwave, a 10-year-old General Electric Wall Mounted Unit named Jeff, made a funny smell one evening and “just quit” on her.

At first she blamed herself for the microwave’s misbehavior, but later said she could find no catalyst for the event. Without the microwave Evelyn said it takes a grueling 3-4 minutes or more to heat water for her cocoa.


You don‘t really ever know when something is going to be ready” Evelyn said

“After 10 years together he became belligerent, and suddenly refused to do what I asked,” she said of the microwave she’d shared a home with since buying the house back in 2000. “At first I was mad at him, then I realized he was dead.”

Asked in an interview whether she missed being able to easily re-heat coffee, leftovers or make microwave popcorn at will over the past months, Evelyn was unequivocal.

”I do (miss it), and it’s been a difficult time,” she said. “It’s a hardship. If I want something to eat I actually have to cook.”


Friends said making nachos at Evelyn’s home now takes “far too long”

“You don’t realize how easy your life is when you have a microwave, you take them for granted,” Evelyn said. “Everything is ready to eat in just a few minutes, but cooking without those certainties is terrifying.”

Friends of the microwave said before he died he’d told them he had “had enough” of Evelyn’s controlling behavior. He told friends he felt stuck in their relationship and was “tired of her pushing his buttons” all the time.

In her grief, Evelyn said she finds the inability to calculate exactly how long it takes to heat water up “terrifying” even when it comes to something as simple as making condensed tomato soup from a can.


"I can't even imagine having to actually use a stove" said one concerned neighbor

“I’ve got a wonderful community of people who are praying for me every day,” she said. “They call and offer to heat me up a burrito, but it’s not the same as having your own microwave,” she said.

Evelyn said she was unaware of the depth of Jeff’s feelings but did say at one point when he began routinely burning her microwave popcorn she’d offered to go to marriage and family therapy but said he refused to leave his spot over the stove.

Evelyn said she had “not yet” decided upon a make and model regarding a new microwave, but she did say she would possibly start looking at ads on craigslist, where many of her single friends had luck meeting appliances before.

Sharyn Thoma Guay reporter-at-large

Healthy, Organic Food Linked To Risk Of Weight Gain, Heart Disease, Anger, Reduced Fun And More, New Study Claims

Sequim, WA

Healthy, organic, and fresh foods, may be associated with increased risk of obesity, diabetes, depression, reduced fun, high blood pressure, and heart disease, according to a new study published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association).

Consumption of "healthy food," such as kale, Swiss chard, spinach, sweet potatoes, and broccoli, is a widespread trend promoted in stores like Whole Foods, PCC, and other small "healthy" pet stores, and demand by humans is increasing.

Emerging data indicates that these organic, healthy, BPA-free, sugar-free, HFCS-free, no artificial-colors-added, no artificial sweeteners-added, antibiotic-free, grass-fed, free-range, non-processed, no-fun, gluten-free, NON-GMO, taste-free, and raw foods, may have negative effects on cats, also causing widespread barfing, depression, reduced bathing, reduced nap-taking, and boredom, a major disruption in their normal lives.

This participant was arrested for tagging a local DMV and breaking a window, while actively eating healthy foods

To better understand whether consuming healthy food is associated with negative long-term effects on weight and heart disease, researchers from the University of Washington conducted a systematic review of 37 studies that followed over 400,000 cats for an average of 10 years. All 37 of these studies were randomized controlled trials (the gold standard in clinical research), involving 1003 cats followed for 6 months on average.

The trials showed a consistent effect of healthy foods on depression, and the longer observational studies showed a link between consumption of healthy foods and relatively higher risks of rampant manic depression, string-addiction, anger issues, peanut butter binge-eating, massive amounts of farting, episodes of random spray-painting, decreased levels of fun, and other health issues.

"Due to observed, widespread depression, caution is warranted when eating a healthy diet," Dr. McCatface stated.

"Despite the fact that millions of cats routinely are fed healthy diets, relatively few of them are happy about it, and crave junk," said author Catty McCatface, an 11-year-old, Domestic Short Hair, who is also the Assistant Professor who headed the study.

"We found that data from clinical trials do not clearly support the intended benefits of eating healthy food, and that kale, it just tastes nasty (sic)," McCatface added.

"Given the widespread and increasing use of healthy foods, and the current epidemic of obesity, lacking fun in life, and related diseases, no more research is needed. Immediate daily dietary supplementation with donuts, donut holes, malted-milk balls, Cool-Whip, Whoopie Pies, and ice cream sundaes, is so far the only proven way we have found to reverse this," said McCatface.

Sharyn Thoma Guay reporter-at-large