A study found that robots could be man's best friend, as people who lived with a pet-like robot for two months were found to have lower levels of stress, similar to the benefits of owning a dog.
According to the British Daily Mail website, researchers in iScience magazine say: “The robot may have an effect similar to that of real pets.”
The researchers used a robot that looks like a small penguin, has two feet, and has the same body temperature as a human. When you press its stomach, it slowly closes its eyes and makes a sound while breathing. When you press its nose, its body shakes and laughs. It follows the owner with the camera and moves his hand to ask for a hug. It can also make eye contact.
Researchers from Jichi Medical University in Japan found that levels of oxytocin, the “cuddle hormone,” were 2.2 times higher in robot owners.
Levels of cortisol, a hormonal indicator of increased stress, were twice as high in people not using robots.
The study said that the use of social robots could be an alternative to animal-assisted therapy in treating depression and alcohol addiction.