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.
If Your Partner Puts a Clothespin on the Shower Head, Here’s What It Could Mean
In today’s world, life hacks and home remedies are just a click away. The Internet has become a treasure trove of helpful tips, many of which were once passed down from generation to generation.
Some hacks seem logical, while others are so unusual that they leave us scratching our heads in disbelief. Have you ever stumbled upon a tip that made you think, “Wait, does this really work?” Well, this one might surprise you!
If you notice a clothespin clipped onto your shower head, it’s time to applaud your partner’s creativity. Clothespins are traditionally used for hanging clothes, but their versatility extends far beyond the laundry room.
Here’s how this humble household item can give your bathroom a refreshing makeover:
The Secret Behind the Clothespin Hack
To try this hack, you’ll need a wooden clothespin and a bottle of your favorite essential oil, such as eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, or any scent that brings you joy. Follow these simple steps:
Soak the clothespin in a few drops of essential oil.
Clip the scented clothespin onto your shower head or shower curtain.
When you take a hot shower, the steam will diffuse the essential oil, filling your bathroom with a soothing, spa-like aroma. This easy DIY trick can elevate your shower routine, turning it into a relaxing and luxurious experience.
Give It a Try!
Don’t just take our word for it—try it yourself and see the difference. Once you do, you might find this hack to be an inexpensive and delightful way to enhance your daily routine.
If you love this idea, share it with your friends and family on Facebook so they can enjoy it too!
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