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.
The Inspiring Journey of a Courageous War Dog in a Wheelchair, Returning Home After a Decade of Heroic Service
After a decade of unwavering service on the battlefield, a remarkable and loyal dog, named Max, finally received the heartwarming homecoming he had earned. Max, a genuine hero in every sense, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with soldiers in challenging conditions for a decade. He displayed unwavering courage and determination, creating an unbreakable bond with the troops he protected.
Max’s journey took an unexpected turn when he sustained an injury in the line of duty, resulting in a permanent disability that necessitated a wheelchair for mobility. Despite the obstacles he faced, Max’s spirit remained unshaken, and his loyalty to his comrades remained steadfast.
The most heartwarming aspect of Max’s story was when, after his long and dedicated service, he was given the opportunity to return to his homeland. The news of his impending return touched the hearts of millions worldwide. As Max made his journey home, people from every corner of the globe followed his progress and expressed their support for this courageous canine hero.
The moment Max arrived home, it was an emotional and jubilant reunion. Seeing the once battle-hardened dog, now using a wheelchair, welcomed by his loving family and friends, was a testament to the indomitable spirit of these extraordinary animals.
Max’s story is a genuine inspiration, reminding us of the sacrifices and unwavering loyalty of service animals. His transition from the battlefield to the comfort of his homeland moved millions of viewers to tears and admiration. Max’s legacy stands as a powerful symbol of the enduring connection between humans and their devoted
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