Dog growls express various contextual and affective content for human listeners.

摘要: Vocal expressions of emotions follow simple rules to encode the inner state caller into acoustic parameters, not just within species, but also in cross-species communication. Humans use these structural attribute dog vocalizations, especially barks, which match with their contexts. In contrast, humans were found be unable differentiate between playful and threatening growls, probably because single growls' aggression level was assessed based on size cues. To resolve this contradiction, we played back natural growl bouts from three social contexts (food guarding, playing) humans, who had rate emotional load guess context playbacks. Listeners attributed growls according Within contexts, shorter, slower pulsing showing smaller apparent body rated less aggressive fearful, more happy. Participants associated correct above chance. Moreover, women participants experienced dogs scored higher task. Our results indicate that may communicate honestly a serious contest situation, while manipulatively uncertain defensive