Auditory contagious yawning in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): first evidence for social modulation

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2012

Autores

Karine Silva (Autor) Outra; Joana Bessa (Autor) Outra; Liliana de Sousa (Autor) ICBAS

Revista

Título: Animal Cognition

Vol. 15

Páginas: 721-724

ISSN: 1435-9448

Editora: Springer Nature

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 41 Citações

Scopus - 22 Citações

Classificação Científica

FOS: Ciências exactas e naturais > Ciências biológicas

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-002-8JE

DOI: 10.1007/s10071-012-0473-2

Abstract (EN): Dogs' capacity to 'catch' human yawns has recently attracted the attention of researchers in the field of animal cognition. Following recent studies suggesting that contagion yawning in humans, and some other primates, is empathy-related, some authors have considered the possibility that the same mechanism may underlie contagious yawning in dogs. To date, however, no positive evidence has been found, and more parsimonious hypotheses have been put forward. The present study explored the 'contagion-only' hypothesis by testing whether the mere sound of a human yawn can be sufficient to elicit yawning in dogs, in a way that is unaffected by social-emotional factors. Unexpectedly, results showed an interesting interplay between contagion and social effects. Not only were dogs found to catch human yawns, but they were also found to yawn more at familiar than unfamiliar yawns. Although not allowing for conclusive inferences about the mechanisms underlying contagious yawning in dogs, this study provides first data that renders plausible empathy-based, emotionally connected, contagious yawning in these animals.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 4