Molly Byrne
Biography
Faculty Bio
Dr. Byrne studies comparative cognition with an emphasis on how domestication has shaped humans and animals, specifically dogs.
Education
PhD, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 2025
Psychology and Neuroscience
BA, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, 2018
Neuroscience
Research and Creative Works
Research Interest
Dr. Byrne's research assistants play fun cognitive games with dogs to learn more about how dogs and humans think and learn. Her research focuses on social cognition and social learning and how these abilities have changed over the course of domestication, uncovering what is shared across mammals and what is unique to the human social world. To do this she has studied pet dog volunteers, service dogs, and the non-domesticated Australian dingo.
Courses Taught
Past Courses
PSY 112: Introduction to Psychology
PSY 214: Anml Psych & Hmn-anml Bond
PSY 277: Evolutionary Psychology
Publications and Presentations
Publications
Dogs (Canis familiaris) refine their process where children (Homo sapiens) overimitate.
Fisher, C. F., Byrne, M. & Johnston, A. M. (2025). Journal of Comparative Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/com0000426
Still Face in pet dogs
Byrne, M., Sawyer, K. & Johnston, A. M. (2024). Journal of Comparative Psychology. Vol 138 (Issue 2) , pages 157-169.
Synchronous Citizen Science with Dogs.
Pelgrim, M. H., Tidd, Z., Byrne, M., Johnston, A. M. & Buchsbaum, D. (2024). Animal Cognition. (Issue 27) , pages 46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-024-01882-6
Pet dogs re-engage after joint activity with a human
Byrne, M., Horschler, D. J., Schmitt, M. & Johnston, A. M. (2023). Animal Cognition. Vol 26 , pages 1277-1282. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-023-01774-1
Dogs re-engage human partners when joint social play is interrupted: A behavioural signature of shared intentionality?
Horschler, D. J., Bray, E. E., Gnanadesikan, G. E., Byrne, M., Levy, K. M., Kennedy, B. S. & MacLean, E. L. (2022). Animal Behaviour. Vol 183 , pages 159-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.11.007
Is shared reality unique? Insights from a new species.
Johnston, A. M., Byrne, M. & Santos, L. R. (2018). Comparative Opinions in Psychology. Vol 23 , pages 30-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.11.006
Professional Contributions and Service
Department Service
- Undergraduate Committee [Committee Member]