Dogs know what to tell them their owners – Los Andes (Argentina)

Scientists have found evidence to support what many dog ​​owners have long believed. The man’s best friend does understand some of what we say

Researchers in Hungary scanned the brains of dogs while these heard talking to his coach in order to try to determine what parts of his brain were using.

they found that dogs processed words with the left hemisphere and use the right to process the tone, as we do people.

More importantly, only registered dogs that were being praised if the words and tone were positive. When they were told nonsense words but encouraging, or words meaningful voice in a neutral tone, did not show the same effects.

“The brain of the dogs they care what we say and how they say, ” said Attila Andics, a neuroscientist at the Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest and lead author of the study in an email. “The praise can function as a reward only if the meaning of the word matches the intonation used ”.

Andics said the findings hint at the mental capacity to process language evolved earlier than it was believed previously, and that what distinguishes humans from other species is the invention of words.

Although it is likely that other species also possess the mental ability to understand language like dogs, their lack of interest in human discourse difficult prove said Andics.

the dogs, on the other hand, have socialized with humans for thousands of years, which means they are more attentive to what people they say and how they say.

the researchers captured images of the brains of 13 dogs making use of a technique known as fMRI functional magnetic resonance imaging or, for its acronym in English, which records brain activity.

the dogs border collies -six five golden retrievers, a German shepherd and a Chinese Crested were trained to stand still in the scanner for seven minutes so that they perform the tests. The animals were conscious and untethered while listening to the voice of their coaches through earphones.

“The most difficult aspect of training is that dogs understand that standing still means you really can not move in at all, ” said Andics, who published their findings in the journal Science.