Scientists at the University of Sussex (United Kingdom) conducted a study showing that horses are able to discern human facial expressions and react negatively to angry faces. The results were published in the scientific journal Biology Letters.
It is important to note that the reactions were identified in domestic horses, which, according to the researchers, suggests that the process of domestication may have enabled the animals to interpret human behavior. “Our behavior around them has an impact,” says researcher Amy Smith.
How the experiment was carried out:
- Participants: Twenty-eight horses took part.
- Monitoring: Heart rate and brain reactions were recorded.
- Procedure: The team displayed large images of people showing happy and angry facial expressions.
How they reacted:
- Angry faces: Horses looked with their left eye, which means they processed the image with the right side of the brain, “specialized in processing negative stimuli,” explained Smith.
- Heart rate: It also increased when the horses were shown angry expressions.
It is truly fascinating to think that living alongside humans may have influenced the animals’ abilities.
Do you agree with this study? Try the test with your own horse!
