Dogs' eyes evolve to appeal to humans
If a dog has eyes that seem to be telling you something or demanding your attention, it could be evolution's way of manipulating your feelings. Researchers have found that dogs have evolved muscles around their eyes, which allow them to make expressions that particularly appeal to humans.
A small facial muscle allows dog eyes to mimic an "infant-like" expression which prompts a "nurturing response". The study says such "puppy eyes" helped domesticated dogs to bond with humans.
Previous studies have shown how such canine expressions can appeal to humans, but this research from the U.K. and U.S. shows there has been an anatomical change around dogs' eyes to make it possible. This allows dogs to create what the researchers call "expressive eyebrows" and to "create the illusion of human-like communication".
"When dogs make the movement, it seems to elicit a strong desire in humans to look after them," says the study, co-authored by Dr Juliane Kaminski at the University of Portsmouth. This muscle movement allows dogs' eyes to "appear larger, more infant-like and also resembles a movement humans produce when they are sad".
She says that humans would have an "unconscious preference" to protect and breed from dogs with such an appealing trait, giving them an evolutionary advantage and reinforcing this change in subsequent generations. "The evidence is compelling that dogs developed a muscle to raise the inner eyebrow after they were domesticated from wolves," says Dr Kaminski, in a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA.
The findings, from U.K. and U.S. researchers in anatomy and comparative psychology, show that the facial change has developed over thousands of years of dogs living alongside humans. Previous research has shown that dogs are more likely to use this "puppy eyes" expression when a human is looking at them–suggesting that it is a deliberate behavior and intended for human consumption.
Anatomist and report co-author, Professor Anne Burrows of Duquesne University in the U.S., says that in evolutionary terms the changes to dogs' facial muscles was "remarkably fast" and could be "directly linked to dogs' enhanced social interaction with humans". The findings, says Professor Bridget Waller of the University of Portsmouth, show "how important faces can be in capturing our attention, and how powerful facial expression can be in social interaction".(386words)
Dogs' eyes evolve to appeal to humans
狗狗的眼睛進化為了吸引人的注意力
If a dog has eyes that seem to be telling you something or demanding your attention, it could be evolution's way of manipulating your feelings. Researchers have found that dogs have evolved muscles around their eyes, which allow them to make expressions that particularly appeal to humans.
如果狗狗的眼睛似乎在向你訴說，或懇求關注，這可能是它們進化出來控制你情緒的方式。研究人員發現，狗的眼周肌肉已經進化到能夠讓它們做出特別吸引人類的表情。
e.g. He said the task of reconstruction would demand much patience, hard work, and sacrifice.2.evolution [,iːvə'luːʃ(ə)n]e.g. The table below shows the evolution of the English alphabet.3.manipulate [mə'nɪpjʊleɪt]e.g. She's always borrowing my clothes and manipulating me to give her vast sums of money.e.g. Birds are widely believed to have evolved from dinosaurs.e.g. He always shows a doleful expression.e.g. You could always try appealing to his better nature.A small facial muscle allows dog eyes to mimic an "infant-like" expression which prompts a "nurturing response". The study says such "puppy eyes" helped domesticated dogs to bond with humans.
狗的眼部有一小塊肌肉，可以讓狗狗的眼睛模仿「嬰兒般的」表情，從而激發人類的「養育反應」。研究稱，這種「小狗眼」有助於寵物狗與人類建立情感紐帶。
e.g. Cross didn't answer; his facial expression didn't change.e.g. He mimicked his uncle's voice and gestures perfectly.e.g. His curiosity prompted him to ask questions .e.g. Parents want to know the best way to nurture and raise their child to adulthood.5.domesticated [də'mestɪkeɪtɪd]e.g. The dumbest domesticated animal is the turkey.Previous studies have shown how such canine(犬的) expressions can appeal to humans, but this research from the U.K. and U.S. shows there has been an anatomical change around dogs' eyes to make it possible. This allows dogs to create what the researchers call "expressive eyebrows" and to "create the illusion of human-like communication".
此前的研究已證實，狗的這種表情是如何吸引人類的，但這項英美兩國的共同研究表明，這是由於狗眼睛周圍的解剖結構發生了變化。這使得狗能夠展現出研究人員所說的「表情眉」， 由此「營造出與人類相似的交流溝通假象」。
1.previous ['priːvɪəs]
e.g. I』ve met him before on two previous occasions.2.anatomical [ænə'tɒmɪk(ə)l]e.g. In anatomical structure prehistoric man shows close affinity with modern humans. 從解剖結構上看，史前人類與現代人類有著密切的關係。e.g. A mirage is an optical illusion.4.communication [kəˌmjuːnɪ'keɪʃn]e.g. Good communication is vital in a large organization."When dogs make the movement, it seems to elicit a strong desire in humans to look after them," says the study, co-authored by Dr Juliane Kaminski at the University of Portsmouth. This muscle movement allows dogs' eyes to "appear larger, more infant-like and also resembles a movement humans produce when they are sad".
研究報告稱，「當狗做這個動作時，似乎會引起人類想要照顧它們的強烈渴望。」樸茨茅斯大學的朱妮娜·卡明斯基博士參與了研究報告的撰寫。這種肌肉運動使狗狗的眼睛「看起來更大，更像嬰兒，也能展現出像人類的悲傷表情」。
1.movement ['muːvm(ə)nt]
e.g. Her every movement is very graceful.e.g. Mr. Norris said he was hopeful that his request would elicit a positive response.e.g. Young children have a keen desire to learn and succeed.e.g. She did her best to appear more self-assured than she felt.e.g. His coffee mugs were said to more closely resemble vats than cups.e.g. I love looking after the children.She says that humans would have an "unconscious preference" to protect and breed from dogs with such an appealing trait, giving them an evolutionary advantage and reinforcing this change in subsequent generations. "The evidence is compelling that dogs developed a muscle to raise the inner eyebrow after they were domesticated from wolves," says Dr Kaminski, in a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA.
朱妮娜·卡明斯基博士說，人類會有一種「無意識的偏好」來保護和養育具有這種吸引人的特性的狗，使它們具有進化優勢，並在繁衍過程中不斷得到強化。卡明斯基博士在發表於《美國國家科學院院刊》上的一項研究中表示:「有令人信服的證據表明，狗在從狼馴化後，發育出了一種可以抬高眉毛內側的肌肉。」
1.unconscious [ʌn'kɒnʃəs]
e.g. He himself seemed totally unconscious of his failure.2.preference ['pref(ə)r(ə)ns]e.g. What is your preference, tea or coffee?e.g. He used to breed dogs for the police.e.g. There was a sense of humour to what he did that I found very appealing.e.g. His generosity is one of his good traits.6.evolutionary [ˌiːvə'luːʃənri] e.g. Some scientists have rejected evolutionary theory.7.advantage [əd'vɑːntɪdʒ]e.g. The great advantage of home-grown oranges is their magnificent flavour.e.g. I hope this will reinforce Indonesian determination to deal with this kind of threat.9.subsequent ['sʌbsɪkw(ə)nt]e.g. Subsequent events confirmed our doubts.The findings, from U.K. and U.S. researchers in anatomy and comparative psychology, show that the facial change has developed over thousands of years of dogs living alongside humans. Previous research has shown that dogs are more likely to use this "puppy eyes" expression when a human is looking at them–suggesting that it is a deliberate behavior and intended for human consumption.
英國和美國的解剖學和比較心理學研究人員的研究結果表明，這種面部變化是在狗和人類生活在一起的數千年裡形成的。此前的研究表明，當人類注視著狗時，狗更有可能使用這種「小狗眼」的表情，這表明這是有意而為，就是做給人看的。
1.comparative [kəm'pærətɪv]
e.g. He majored in comparative literature.2.psychology [saɪ'kɒlədʒi]e.g. I am always interested in psychology.3.deliberate [dɪ'lɪbərət]e.g. Witnesses say the firing was deliberate and sustained.4.consumption [kən'sʌm(p)ʃ(ə)n]e.g. The meat was condemned as unfit for human consumption.Anatomist and report co-author, Professor Anne Burrows of Duquesne University in the U.S., says that in evolutionary terms the changes to dogs' facial muscles was "remarkably fast" and could be "directly linked to dogs' enhanced social interaction with humans". The findings, says Professor Bridget Waller of the University of Portsmouth, show "how important faces can be in capturing our attention, and how powerful facial expression can be in social interaction".
該研究報告的合著者、解剖學家、美國杜肯大學教授安妮·巴羅斯說，從進化角度看，狗面部肌肉的變化「非常快」，可能「和狗與人類社會互動直接相關」。樸茨茅斯大學布裡奇特·沃勒教授表示，這些發現表明，「面部表情在吸引我們的注意力方面有多麼重要，在社交互動中有多麼強大」。
1.anatomist [ə'nætəmɪst]
e.g. Many anatomists identified three such stages of visual analysis in the cortex.2.remarkably [rɪ'mɑːkəblɪ]e.g. He was remarkably successful in business.e.g. He made many efforts to enhance his reputation.4.interaction [ˌɪntər'ækʃn]e.g. The following excerpt is illustrative of her interaction with students.狗狗歪頭看你——真的是賣萌嗎？
主人每次說話的時候狗狗都會歪著頭，或者是狗狗盯著你看的時候，也是歪著頭的，那麼狗狗為什麼這麼喜歡歪著頭呢，是喜歡賣萌嗎？它們也知道這樣比較可愛嗎？專家解釋說：「狗狗根本沒有賣萌的想法，一切都是有原因的！」
狗狗想理解你的意思：狗狗極其擅長解讀人類的語言和肢體動作、表情、語氣之間的關係，即使它聽不懂人類的語言，但是通過你的肢體動作、語氣和表情，他就知道你是高興的誇獎它還是生氣的批評它。
狗狗想聽得更清楚：狗狗的聽覺很敏銳，能夠聽到人類聽不到的頻率，但聽詳細聲響卻有點困難。它們的大腦能計算出兩隻耳朵聽到聲響的時刻有微小差異，為了聽得更清楚一些，只能歪頭。也有人說，狗狗歪頭是為了調整耳廓，以便更好確定聲音來源。
狗狗想看得更清楚：大家可以試著把手握成拳頭，放在鼻子前面來模仿狗的長鼻。此時你就明白狗的視野是什麼樣的了，現在你看著你面前的另一個人說話，你會發現你根本看不清他的嘴唇動作。狗也是一樣，它為了看清你的整個臉所以歪著頭盯著你，這樣它就更方便識別你的表情語言。狗居然會讀唇術，你是不是驚到了？
雖然狗狗歪頭有自己的道理，但在主人看來就是賣萌啊。如果狗狗歪頭太頻繁，主人也要注意一下，看看是不是生病了，不要因為可愛就忽略它們的健康～
*說明：文章段落來源於BBC，由MBA大師團隊修改編輯，僅作英語交流學習使用。若對發布的推文存在疑問，感謝您與我們取得聯繫，我們將及時回復處理。