Acoustic Signals of a Dog and Cat Induce Hemodynamic Responses within the Human Brain

作者：Miyaji Kazuki; Kobayashi Ai; Maruko Teppei; Ohtani Nobuyo^*; Ohta Mitsuaki

来源：Anthrozoos, 2014, 27(2): 165-172.

DOI：10.2752/175303714X13903827487368

• cat meows
• dog barks
• near infrared spectroscopy

The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of the human frontal cortex when listening to cat meows and dog barks, accompanied with a non-verbal pictorial using an affective rating system that assesses the dimensions of valence and arousal. Each participant (24 students; 12 females and 12 males) sat individually in the middle of a room and listened to the sounds (cat meows, dog barks, and the sound of a train) through ceiling-mounted speakers with a near infrared spectroscopic (NIRS) device. Participants had significantly higher oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) levels during the exposure to meows (p < 0.05) and barks (p < 0.01) compared with the train sound. A significant correlation was observed between the dimensions of valence and oxy-Hb activation when the participants listened to cat meows (r = 0.53, p < 0.017; Bonferroni correction). In conclusion, we found that the acoustic signals of companion animals lead to frontal cortex responses in humans, suggesting that their signals have an important function related to their long coexistence with people.

• 出版日期2014-6