Empathy in Parallel Carnivores: A Naturalistic Neurobiological Model of Human-Animal Attachment

Abstract

This project develops a theoretical biological framework explaining how diet, endocannabinoid modulation, and natural psychoplastogens shape human empathy toward companion animals, particularly dogs and cats. The model integrates evolutionary biology, affective neuroscience, and phenomenological evidence to propose that humans and dogs share a foundation of parallel facultative carnivory, which creates a unique substrate for interspecies emotional resonance. The project examines three mechanistic pillars: Carnivore Diet → Emotional Regulation High‑protein, high‑fat diets stabilise glucose, reduce neuroinflammation, increase BDNF, and strengthen prefrontal–amygdala regulation. These changes support stable compassion, reduced hyperreactivity, and enhanced perception of nonverbal cues - capacities central to human–animal attunement. Cannabis → CB1‑Centric Affective Modulation CB1 receptor activation influences oxytocin release, limbic resonance, interoceptive awareness, and amygdala downregulation. These mechanisms increase empathic salience, emotional openness, and relational receptivity toward animals. Natural Psychoplastogens → Affective Neuroplasticity Compounds such as psilocybin, mescaline, DMT, harmine/harmaline, and ibogaine (optional) promote dendritic spine growth, synaptogenesis, and enhanced limbic–prefrontal integration. These processes expand relational capacity and deepen attunement to nonverbal animal cues. Together, these pillars form the Affective Carnivore Hypothesis, proposing that affective neurobiology interacts with evolutionary architecture to shape human–animal attachment. The project includes a phenomenological case study involving three companion animals - Buddha, Zen, and Bubba - whose interactions provide lived evidence of the model’s mechanistic claims. This includes the emergence of stable compassion, increased emotional clarity, and a shift toward perceiving animals as relational equals rather than hierarchical dependents. A further applied dimension is incorporated through the author’s volunteer work at The DogFather Animal Rescue (Dulguigan, NSW). Rescue environments provide real‑world behavioural evidence of the model: stable glucose regulation, CB1‑mediated empathic salience, and psychoplastogen‑supported neuroplasticity translate into calm handling of distressed animals, accurate reading of nonverbal cues, and sustained prosocial caregiving behaviour. This behavioural expression is treated as an outcome of the affective mechanisms described above. Expected outcomes of the project include: A formalised theoretical framework (Affective Carnivore Hypothesis) linking diet, endocannabinoid signalling, and psychoplastogen‑driven neuroplasticity to human–animal empathy. A mechanistic explanation for why dogs and cats occupy a unique emotional niche in human social cognition. A conceptual bridge between evolutionary biology and affective neuroscience in the context of interspecies bonding. A phenomenological dataset illustrating how neurobiological modulation manifests in real‑world relational behaviour. Applied implications for animal rescue, caregiving, and human–animal ethics. A foundation for future empirical work examining diet‑linked affective stability, CB1 modulation, and psychoplastogen‑driven relational expansion. The project is dedicated to Buddha, Zen, and Bubba, whose companionship illuminated the biological and emotional principles explored in this theoretical model. This work is being shared exclusively through Zenodo as part of an open‑science dissemination pathway. It is not being submitted as an official peer‑reviewed publication, and no claims of formal journal acceptance or certification are being made. The purpose of this registration is to document the conceptual development of the Affective Carnivore Hypothesis, ensure transparent theoretical framing, and provide a stable DOI‑linked record of the project’s evolution.