Dogs prefer certain TV shows depending on their personality type, researchers find
Auburn University experts in Alabama recruited 453 dogs, aged from four months to 16 years old, and their owners to record their responses to different TV shows.
'The survey investigated trends in the dogs' TV viewing habits, including whether the owner tried to teach the dog to watch TV, the average number of hours per week the owner's TV is switched on, and the average number of seconds the dog pays attention to the TV,' researchers told The Times.
'Dogs who were more excitable were more likely to exhibit behaviours suggesting an expectation that the television stimulus exists in the 3D environment,' said the researchers, whose study was published in Scientific Reports.
'Furthermore, dogs who displayed more fearful tendencies were more likely to respond to the non-animal stimuli, for example, car [or] doorbell.'
Last year, scientists revealed the trick to getting your pet dog to understand what you are saying. The research, published in October, claimed people should try speaking a little bit slower.
It concludes that dogs' comprehension of human speech relies on a slower tempo. Despite not being able to produce human sounds, man's best friend is capable of responding to human speech.
When people talk slowly, it matches the receptive abilities of animals, allowing dogs to better understand commands, researchers say.
Writing in the Plos Biology journal, the authors said: 'Comparative exploration of neural and behavioural responses to speech reveals that comprehension in dogs relies on a slower speech rhythm tracking than humans', even though dogs are equally sensitive to speech content and prosody.'
They hypothesise that people may adjust their speech rate 'as means to improve communication efficacy'.
Eloise Deaux, of the University of Geneva in Switzerland, and colleagues analysed the vocal sounds of 30 dogs, and the sounds of 27 humans across five languages speaking to other people, and 22 humans across those languages speaking to dogs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Nutrient found in eggs helps lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's, research shows
Research indicates that consuming more than one egg per week may significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. A study of over 1,000 older US adults found that this intake was associated with a 47 percent lower risk of Alzheimer's over nearly seven years. The primary benefit is linked to choline, an essential nutrient found in eggs, which plays a crucial role in memory and brain function. Egg yolks also contain omega-3 fatty acids, known for their neuroprotective properties, further contributing to brain health.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Forever chemicals in household objects linked to type 2 diabetes, scientists warn
Common 'forever chemicals' found in everyday items like non-stick cookware, food packaging and waterproof clothing could increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, new research has found. The study adds to a growing body of research pointing to a role of plastic-related 'forever chemicals', also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), in disrupting human metabolism. Researchers in New York analysed health records and blood samples from 360 people, comparing individuals recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to those without. They found that people with higher levels of PFAs in their blood were up to 31 per cent more likely to develop diabetes. PFAS are a class of thousands of human-made chemicals used since the 1940s in stain-resistant furniture, greaseproof food packaging, cosmetics and firefighting foams. They are known for persisting in the environment and the bloodstream, earning them the name 'forever chemicals.' The study showed these chemicals appear to interfere with amino acid biosynthesis and drug metabolism – processes that are critical to the body's blood sugar regulation. 'PFAS are synthetic chemicals that resist heat, oil, water, and stains, and are found in countless everyday consumer products,' said Dr Vishal Midya, senior author of the study and assistant professor of environmental medicine at Mount Sinai 's Icahn School of Medicine. 'Because they don't break down easily, PFAS accumulate in the environment – and in human bodies.' The researchers said their findings point to a need to factor in environmental exposure, not just genetics or lifestyle, when trying to prevent type 2 diabetes. 'Mounting research suggests that PFAS are a risk factor for several chronic diseases, such as obesity, liver disease, and diabetes,' said Dr Damaskini Valvi, associate professor of public health and environmental medicine at Mount Sinai. PFAS have already been linked to several health problems, including cancers, reproductive harm, and immune system suppression. These substances are so widespread that a long-term US government study found 98 per cent of Americans had some amount of PFAs in their blood. While earlier research, including a Harvard study, has linked PFAS to diabetes risk, the Mount Sinai researchers say their study is among the first to explore how these chemicals may disrupt metabolic pathways in diverse, urban populations. The findings come amid global talks on whether limiting PFAS should be included in a forthcoming UN plastics treaty. A growing number of countries, including many in the European Union, have already announced or implemented their own restrictions on PFAs in consumer products.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Forever chemicals now linked to disease suffered by 35million Americans
Americans exposed to 'forever chemicals' have up to a 31 percent higher risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study warns. Researchers from Mount Sinai looked at the link between polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - found in everything from non-stick cookware to food packaging to tap water - and the incidence of type 2 diabetes, which affects up to 35 million Americans. Past research has linked the chemicals, which accumulate in the body over time and are slow to break down, to a range of health problems, including kidney, breast and testicular cancers. To paint a more comprehensive picture of PFAS and diabetes risk, researchers looked at large population-level datasets to identify patterns of exposure and illness. Based on available data, the study analyzed 180 people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and compared them to 180 similar individuals without diabetes. All participants were matched based on age, sex, and ancestry. Researchers used blood samples to analyze PFAS levels and found that higher levels increased the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by almost one third. Specifically, each increase in range of PFAS exposure was linked to a 31 percent increase in risk. Dr Vishal Midya, who was the lead author of the study and an assistant professor of environmental medicine at Mount Sinai, said: 'Because they don't break down easily, PFAS accumulate in the environment - and in human bodies. 'Our study is one of the first to examine how these chemicals may disrupt the body's metabolism in ways that increase diabetes risk - particularly in diverse US populations.' For the study, the researchers used data from BioMe, an electronic health record-linked biobank of more than 65,000 patients seeking primary care at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York since 2007. From an initial analysis, 180 people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were selected with this group made up of 33 percent African Americans, 33 percent Hispanics, and 33 percent Whites. These patients were then compared to 180 similar individuals without diabetes. All participants were matched based on age, sex, and ancestry. Blood plasma samples collected from the individuals before they were diagnosed with diabetes or given the all-clear were used to assess PFAS levels. The researchers then applied Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression to the samples. This statistical method is used to analyze the effects of mixtures of chemical exposures on a health outcome. By using WQS, the team were able to see how PFAS levels in the blood were linked to patients developing diabetes. Metabolic alterations, such as insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism, are key contributors to the development of type 2 diabetes. These changes, often linked to obesity and unhealthy lifestyles, disrupt the body's ability to regulate blood sugar effectively, leading to hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia occurs when the level of sugar in your blood gets too high. Chronic or persistent hyperglycemia can lead to diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include feeling thirsty, frequent urination, tiredness and breath that smells fruity. Treatment for type 2 typically involves taking insulin several times a day, either by injection or through a pump. PFAS exposure can contribute to diabetes development through several mechanisms, including disrupting cells in the pancreas responsible for regulating blood glucose levels, increasing insulin resistance, and potentially increasing body fat. The researchers say the new findings underscore the importance of regulating PFAS. Senior author, Dr Damaskini Valvi, said: 'Findings can help us design more effective interventions for the early prevention of type 2 diabetes in the future, taking into account individuals' exposures to environmental chemicals along with other well-known genetic, clinical, and lifestyle factors implicated in diabetes development. 'Mounting research suggests that PFAS are a risk factor for several chronic diseases, such as obesity, liver disease, and diabetes.' PFAS are microscopic substances that take thousands of years to break down in the environment and human body, earning them the name 'forever chemicals.' Their main purpose is to repel water and oil, which is what makes non-stick cookware easier to clean and why certain jackets and tents can withstand rain. The chemicals can seep into the water supply from washing dishes and can enter food if packaging is made to be grease-resistant or if the non-stick coating on pots and pans begins to deteriorate. PFAS are also common in pesticides used on crops, which produces chemical-rich runoff that can enter the drinking water supply. There is no level of safe exposure to the chemicals. Public water systems have four years to implement solutions to reduce PFAS in their water, under orders made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Beginning in 2029, the EPA will police levels of six types of PFAS in drinking water - PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA, and PFBS - and systems with unacceptable levels, will be required to notify the public. Last year, the EPA set the maximum contaminant levels for PFAS at 4.0 parts per trillion. One study found that US counties where drinking water surpassed this level - such as Nassau, Suffolk, and Rockland in New York and Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties in California - had a higher incidence of digestive, endocrine, respiratory, and mouth and throat cancers. Increases in incidence rates ranged from slightly elevated, at two percent, to 'substantially elevated' at 33 percent. The Mount Sinai team are now calling for studies involving larger populations, expanding over the life course, in order to better understand the health impacts of PFAS across the lifespan and at vulnerable life periods.
