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Scientific reports2019; 9(1); 11568; doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47960-5

Horses associate individual human voices with the valence of past interactions: a behavioural and electrophysiological study.

Abstract: Brain lateralization is a phenomenon widely reported in the animal kingdom and sensory laterality has been shown to be an indicator of the appraisal of the stimulus valence by an individual. This can prove a useful tool to investigate how animals perceive intra- or hetero-specific signals. The human-animal relationship provides an interesting framework for testing the impact of the valence of interactions on emotional memories. In the present study, we tested whether horses could associate individual human voices with past positive or negative experiences. Both behavioural and electroencephalographic measures allowed examining laterality patterns in addition to the behavioural reactions. The results show that horses reacted to voices associated with past positive experiences with increased attention/arousal (gamma oscillations in the right hemisphere) and indicators of a positive emotional state (left hemisphere activation and ears held forward), and to those associated with past negative experiences with negative affective states (right hemisphere activation and ears held backwards). The responses were further influenced by the animals' management conditions (e.g. box or pasture). Overall, these results, associating brain and behaviour analysis, clearly demonstrate that horses' representation of human voices is modulated by the valence of prior horse-human interactions.
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Publication Date: 2019-08-09 PubMed ID: 31399629PubMed Central: PMC6689011DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47960-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research explores the ability of horses to associate individual human voices with previous positive or negative experiences, with a focus on the animals’ behavioural and brain responses.

Objective of the study

The research aimed to study ‘brain lateralization’ in horses and how it affects their response to human voices based on their past experiences.

  • Brain lateralization refers to the fact that the left and right hemispheres of the brain are not identical and have different functions, seen in different species across the animal kingdom.
  • This phenomenon is particularly relevant to how animals perceive and respond to intra-species or inter-species signals, for instance, human voices in the case of horses.

Methodology of the study

The researchers conducted behavioural tests and electroencephalographic (EEG) measures on horses, associating human voices with either positive or negative past experiences.

  • The behavioural tests were designed to observe horses’ immediate reactions to the voices.
  • The EEG measures were used to explore the patterns of brain activity and lateralization occurring in response to the voices. This was done by measuring gamma oscillations and noting which hemisphere of the brain was more activated.

Results of the study

The findings revealed that horses could indeed associate human voices with prior positive or negative experiences, and react accordingly.

  • Horses responded to human voices linked to past positive experiences with increased attention or arousal. This was particularly represented by increased gamma oscillations in the right hemisphere and signs of a positive emotional state – activation of the left hemisphere and forward-held ears.
  • Conversely, horses linked voices from past negative experiences with negative emotional states – this was evidenced by the activation of the right hemisphere and their ears held backward.
  • The researchers found that the horses’ responses were further influenced by their management conditions, such as whether they were kept in a box or pasture.

Conclusions of the study

The study concludes that horses’ perceptions of human voices are modulated by the nature (positive or negative) of their prior interactions with humans. This was demonstrated by the physical behaviours of horses and their brain responses to human voices, a finding that establishes a significant bridge between behaviour and brain analysis in the study of animal emotions.

Cite This Article

APA
(2019). Horses associate individual human voices with the valence of past interactions: a behavioural and electrophysiological study. Sci Rep, 9(1), 11568. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47960-5

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Pages: 11568
PII: 11568

Researcher Affiliations

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Attention
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Brain / physiology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Emotions
  • Functional Laterality
  • Horses / physiology
  • Human-Animal Bond
  • Humans
  • Voice

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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