Research · Updated 18 Oct, 07:08 am IST
Study finds dogs map made-up words 'bouba' and 'kiki' to shapes
Why it matters for readers: It reveals that dogs may perceive sounds and shapes in ways similar to humans, which is interesting about animal minds.
- Researchers recruited 70 domestic dogs for two nearly identical experiments, with 51 dogs participating in the first test, according to the report.1
- The setup placed screens and speakers to the left and right while owners sat between them and the sounds 'bouba' and 'kiki' were played during trials.1
- The paper, led by animal behaviorist Eleonora Biffi of the University of Parma, was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.1
- Results suggest dogs, like humans, tend to associate 'bouba' with rounded shapes and 'kiki' with spiky shapes.1
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