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Scientific reports2018; 8(1); 8660; doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-26892-6

Cross-modal perception of human emotion in domestic horses (Equus caballus).

Abstract: Humans have domesticated many kinds of animals in their history. Dogs and horses have particularly close relationships with humans as cooperative partners. However, fewer scientific studies have been conducted on cognition in horses compared to dogs. Studies have shown that horses cross-modally distinguish human facial expressions and recognize familiar people, which suggests that they also cross-modally distinguish human emotions. In the present study, we used the expectancy violation method to investigate whether horses cross-modally perceive human emotions. Horses were shown a picture of a human facial expression on a screen, and they then heard a human voice from the speaker before the screen. The emotional values of the visual and auditory stimuli were the same in the congruent condition and different in the incongruent condition. Horses looked at the speaker significantly longer in the incongruent condition than in the congruent condition when they heard their caretaker's voices but not when they heard the stranger voice. In addition, they responded significantly more quickly to the voice in the incongruent condition than in the congruent one. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that horses cross-modally recognized the emotional states of their caretakers and strangers.
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Publication Date: 2018-06-21 PubMed ID: 29930289PubMed Central: PMC6013457DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26892-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research studied the ability of horses to perceive human emotions through both sight and sound. The findings reveal that horses can cross-modally recognize the emotional states of humans, demonstrating a higher response to the emotions of their caretakers over strangers.

Objective

The objective of the study was to investigate whether horses can recognize human emotions by way of cross-modal perception; that is, using more than one sensory modality (in this case, vision and hearing).

Methodology

  • The researchers used the expectancy violation method for this study. Horses were shown a picture of a human facial expression, after which the horses listened to a human voice from a speaker.
  • The emotional values of the visual (human facial expression) and auditory (human voice) stimuli were congruent (matched) in some cases and incongruent (did not match) in others.

Findings

  • It was found that horses paid significantly more attention to the voice in the incongruent condition than in the congruent one, meaning that the horses noticed when the emotions portrayed in the photo was not aligned with the emotions expressed via the audio.
  • The horses reacted faster to the voice in the incongruent condition, further showing their sensitivity to the mismatch between the visual and auditory emotional cues.
  • Interestingly, the horses demonstrated this behavior more pronouncedly when they heard the voices of their caretakers compared to when they heard unfamiliar voices. This suggests that the horses had not only recognized the emotions of the people they interact with every day, but also had expectations about their emotional states.

Significance

  • From this study, it’s clear that horses have a degree of emotional intelligence and can cross-modally perceive human emotions, that is, they can detect emotions using multiple senses.
  • This study contributes further to our understanding of animal cognition, particularly in domesticated animals, and can have valuable implications for the care and training of horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Nakamura K, Takimoto-Inose A, Hasegawa T. (2018). Cross-modal perception of human emotion in domestic horses (Equus caballus). Sci Rep, 8(1), 8660. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26892-6

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 1
Pages: 8660
PII: 8660

Researcher Affiliations

Nakamura, Kosuke
  • Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. ksknkmr@g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
Takimoto-Inose, Ayaka
  • Department of Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Letters, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. atakimoto@let.hokudai.ac.jp.
  • Center for Experimental Research in Social Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. atakimoto@let.hokudai.ac.jp.
Hasegawa, Toshikazu
  • Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation / methods
  • Animals
  • Auditory Perception / physiology
  • Emotions
  • Female
  • Horses / physiology
  • Horses / psychology
  • Human-Animal Bond
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Pets / physiology
  • Pets / psychology
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Visual Perception / physiology
  • Voice

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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