Journal-News: UC studies art, pet robot therapy
University of Cincinnati researchers are studying how art therapy delivered through a mobile app and pet therapy with a robotic dog can affect the wellbeing and mental health of patients with hearing loss.
All patients in the pilot study will be given a tablet, create art based on prompts from the app and then self-report on their mood. Half of the patients in the study will additionally be given a robotic dog to interact with.
Claudia B. Rebola, PhD, associate dean for research, associate professor and director of the new Center for DAAP Research and Innovation (CDRI) on Health and Wellbeing in the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, told the Journal-News that patients can quickly develop attachments to the robotic dogs like they do with real furry friends.
“And while you know it’s an animal robotic agent — it’s not a real dog — you attach feelings to it, in terms of routines, and interactions, and you expect a bark in response to, let’s say I turn on the lights, and then the dog barks, like saying, ‘hello.’ So you quickly develop a sense of presence with these robots in your life," she said.
Read the Journal-News article. (Note: Article may require a subscription.)
Featured photo at top of robotic dog. Photo/Ravenna Rutledge/University of Cincinnati.
Related Stories
UC marketing class featured in Super Bowl Ad Meter School Spotlight
March 4, 2026
University of Cincinnati’s Lindner College of Business was one of just 16 institutions representing USA Today’s Ad Meter School Spotlight program, where students got to evaluate the ads and publish their findings alongside industry professionals. The students' top-rated commercials largely aligned with Ad Meter’s official rankings, with Budweiser's "American Icons" earning the highest score. The participants included over 300 students across two marketing classes taught by assistant professor-educator Summer Shelton. She came to the University from a marketing research firm and brings experience ranking Super Bowl commercials as an industry professional herself.
UC leaders recognized for excellence in technology leadership.
March 4, 2026
University of Cincinnati Vice President & Chief Digital Officer Bharath Prabhakaran was named a finalist in the nonprofit/public sector category for the National ORBIE Awards 2026, in rapid succession to last year’s nomination, where Prabhakaran was named the 2025 Ohio CIO Enterprise ORBIE winner.
Study: There might be 3 different types of ADHD
March 4, 2026
The University of Cincinnati's Melissa DelBello was featured in a National Geographic article discussing recent research she coauthored that used brain imaging to identify three distinct subtypes of of ADHD, each with its own chemical interactions in the brain.