Posted on 02/22/2014 4:03:45 AM PST by driftdiver
Think your dog can tell when you’re feeling sad or happy? You may be right.
Dogs are sensitive to cues of emotion in human voices, according to a new study from Current Biology. Researchers suspect the area of the brain responsible for voice and sounds in both dogs and humans evolved at the same time, 100 million years ago, when the two species shared common ancestors.
"Dogs and humans share a similar social environment," Attila Andics, of MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group in Hungary, said in a press release. "Our findings suggest that they also use similar brain mechanisms to process social information. This may support the successfulness of vocal communication between the two species."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
This should be no surprise to anyone.
Doggie Ping...
Lost me with “100 million years ago, when the two species shared common ancestors.”
^^^^^ LOL. True that. ^^^^^
Well OK but in their defense my dog thinks he’s part of the family.
You should have posted an evolution barf alert with this one.
So can cats. But, they just don’t care.
Dogs not only detect human emotion, they display it; happiness, sadness, boredom, jealously, guilt.
Researchers suspect the area of the brain responsible for voice and sounds in both dogs and humans evolved at the same time, 100 million years ago, when the two species shared common ancestors.
The same researchers will tell you that T. Rex was walking the earth 67 million years ago. So ... back about 30 million years before T. Rex there was (I guess) some kind of creature which was a common ancestor to both dogs and man, and the researchers have come up with evidence about how that creature's brain processed voice and sounds.
It's fantasy time.
“This should be no surprise to anyone.”
For sure. We need a study for this? Anyone who has a dog knows that with dogs it’s all about tone. Merely watch their ears. When they go back or flatten they know they’re in trouble. When they’re perked up all is good. Actually, it’s the same with kids, lol :)
Anyone who has a dog already knew this. My labs know when someone in the house is not feeling well or is off their normal mood. If their person is sick, they are low key and will not leave their side. If their person is angry, they slink off to the beds.
There is also a cute story about why the dog is named dog. He was created in God’s reverse image - he follows and admires us the way that we are supposed to follow and admire God. (short version)
My dog IS part of the family.
He still seems to think that if he drinks Dad’s coffee, he is going to turn into a human. He is right there at the bathroom sink in the morning, standing up and checking everyone out in the mirror.
Nope, still a dog. Need more coffee. Black, please.
Mine is currently miffed at me for not sharing my bacon this morning.
Dogs can detect human emotion, even without voices.
I agree. Our ACD will react to the slightest movement if he thinks it means food or play time. He’s over 100 now and slowing down but he used to sit with his frisbie in his mouth staring at me as I used the computer. If I so much as moved my eyes to look to the side at him, his tail would start wagging. If I turned my head he would get up, tail wagging and start to whine. Hard to ignore. I used to say that my cat hung out with me when I was sick so that she could eat me when I died. Kind of different.
Its not what you say, its how you say it. I’ve been telling clients this for over 40 years.
Dogs know things. I don’t know how or why, but, they do. I’ve had dogs that came to know what I was going to do before I did. They figure sh!t out. I’ve had some great dogs but my sister has an Aussie that, honest to God, has a sense of humor. He will do silly things and then stop and “grin” if you will all seemingly knowing he’s made a funny. Strange.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.