By Jessica MasonMar 10th, 2021, 11:00 am
We’ve all looked at a pet or an animal and thought to ourselves, “What are they thinking?” Sure we can guess from purrs or bites or many other external indicators how an animal is doing, but we don’t really know for certain because we obviously can’t read their minds. Except now, thanks to science, we kind of can!
Scientists have developed a new mobile headband that allows them to detect brain waves in horses. Using this tool, they can look into the animal’s minds and know what they’re feeling. At least, that’s the idea. The technology isn’t exact but it is promising. The device is an electroencephalogram (EEG), which has been used on human brains for over a century, but only in recent decades have scientists used it to study how different feelings look in the brains of humans and in some animals. However, that previously took place in labs or with large machines; this new technology allows researchers to measure the brain
Horsetalk.co.nz How do horses feel about rodeos? Researchers weigh in
A Canadian study has shown that rodeo horses become accustomed to their role in the high-pressure sport.
The findings of the study, published recently in the journal
Applied Animal Behaviour Science, involved observing the behaviour of rodeo horses at the iconic Calgary Stampede.
The researchers found that horses with increased experience of rodeo displayed fewer reactive behaviours during both loading and holding in the chute prior to performance.
This, they said, was likely indicative of habituation based on spontaneous and anticipatory behaviours.
The study delved into a controversial question in a sport often criticised by animal welfare advocates: How do the animals feel about their participation?