Dogs’ brains are sensitive to the familiar high-pitched “cute” voice tone that adult humans, especially women, use to talk to babies, according to a new study.
The research, published recently in the journal Communications Biology, found “exciting similarities” between infant and dog brains during the processing of speech with such a high-pitched tone feature.
Humans tend to speak with a specific speech style characterised by exaggerated prosody, or patterns of stress and intonation in a language, when communicating with individuals having limited language competence.
Such speech has previously been found to be very important for the healthy cognitive, social and language development of children, who are also tuned to such a high-pitched voice.
But researchers, including those from the Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, hoped to assess whether dog brains are also sensitive to this way of communication.
In the study, conscious family dogs were made to listen to dog, infant and adult-directed speech recorded from 12 women and men in real-life interactions.
As the dogs listened, their brain activities were measured using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan.
The study found the sound-processing regions of the dogs’ brains responded more to dog- and infant-directed than adult-directed speech.
This marked the first neurological evidence that dog brains are tuned to speech directed specifically at them.
“Studying how dog brains process dog-directed speech is exciting, because it can help us understand how exaggerated prosody contributes to efficient speech processing in a nonhuman species skilled at relying on different speech cues,” explained Anna Gergely, co-first author of the study.
Scientists also found dog- and infant-directed speech sensitivity of dog brains was more pronounced when the speakers were women, and was affected by voice pitch and its variation.
These findings suggest the way we speak to dogs matters, and that their brain is specifically sensitive to the higher-pitched voice tone typical to the female voice.
“Remarkably, the voice tone patterns characterizing women’s dog-directed speech are not typically used in dog-dog communication – our results may thus serve evidence for a neural preference that dogs developed during their domestication,” said Anna Gábor, co-first author of the study.
“Dog brains’ increased sensitivity to dog-directed speech spoken by women specifically may be due to the fact that women more often speak to dogs with exaggerated prosody than men,” Dr Gabor said.
Kindness Beyond Borders: The Uplifting Saga of a Dog’s Heroic Rescue in the ‘Miracle on the Tracks
In a world often marked by challenges and uncertainties, a heartwarming story has emerged to restore our faith in the innate goodness of humanity. The tale, aptly named “Miracle on the Tracks,” centers around a loyal dog whose heroic actions transcend the ordinary.
The narrative takes root when the canine, known for its unwavering loyalty, stumbles upon an abandoned baby near a set of train tracks. Without hesitation, the dog springs into action, barking and attracting the attention of passersby. The heroic effort unfolds as the faithful companion stands guard over the defenseless infant, a living symbol of vulnerability amid life’s tumultuous journey.
As the news of the loyal dog’s rescue mission spreads, the story captivates hearts worldwide, sparking a wave of empathy and kindness. Social media platforms buzz with discussions, and the once-fragmented online community unites in shared appreciation for the dog’s selfless act. The image of the protective dog and the rescued baby becomes a beacon of hope, reminding people of the profound impact small acts of compassion can have on a global scale.
The “Miracle on the Tracks” saga serves as a powerful testament to the enduring qualities of empathy and kindness. In a world often inundated with negativity, this story becomes a rallying point for those who believe in the transformative power of compassion. It prompts individuals to reflect on their own capacity for benevolence and consider the positive change that can arise from even the simplest acts of caring.
Ultimately, “Miracle on the Tracks” resonates beyond its immediate narrative, becoming a universal symbol of hope. It reinforces the idea that, irrespective of our differences, we are all connected by a shared humanity that thrives on compassion. In this heartening tale, the loyal dog becomes an unwitting ambassador for the innate goodness within us all, rekindling our collective belief in the power of empathy and kindness to create miracles, both big and small.
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