为什么狗与主人团聚时“喜极而泣”？

While dog owners are familiar with face-licking and tail-wagging, a new study has found that dogs can cry tears of joy to express their emotions.

狗主人对狗舔人脸和摇尾巴的行为再熟悉不过了，但一项新研究发现，狗还能用喜悦的泪水表达自己的情绪。

 

Katey Aldred, animal behaviourist and veterinary nurse

"It is a really exciting piece of research. "

凯蒂·奥尔德雷德       动物行为学家和兽医护士

“这是一项让人欣喜不已的研究。”

 

Japanese researchers found canine¹ eyes well up with tears of joy when they are reunited with their owners.

日本研究人员发现，当狗与主人团聚时，它们会高兴得热泪盈眶。

 

Katey Aldred, animal behaviourist and veterinary nurse

"Research shows that the tear production is increased when the owner who's separated from them return[s]."

凯蒂·奥尔德雷德       动物行为学家和兽医护士

“研究表明，当爱犬与它们的主人在分开后重聚时，它们的泪腺分泌量会增加。”

 

The study looked at the reactions of 22 dogs who were reunited with their owners and other people they know.

研究仔细观察了22只狗在与主人及其他认识的人团聚时的反应。

 

Scientists believe dogs cry because of the release of oxytocin, the so-called cuddle hormone².

科学家认为，狗之所以会哭是因为体内分泌了催产素，俗称 “拥抱荷尔蒙”。

 

Katey Aldred, animal behaviourist and veterinary nurse

"We know that oxytocin is involved with social behaviour, bonds and attachment³ and it can also play a modulating⁴, fundamental role in emotional processing."

凯蒂·奥尔德雷德       动物行为学家和兽医护士

“我们知道催产素和社会行为、纽带和依恋有关，它还可以在处理情绪时发挥调节的基础性作用。”

 

The role of oxytocin was already known to researchers.

研究人员已知催产素的作用。

 

Katey Aldred, animal behaviourist and veterinary nurse

"We know that emotional bonds with owners can be formed and it does relate back to attachment style, just as it does in humans. It overlaps⁵ again back to oxytocin because some studies show that plays the crucial role in the development of that bond. Dogs and animals do have emotions. Happiness. Frustration⁶. Grief. Relaxation⁷. My dogs right now are all laid around, you know, just by me while I'm talking to you."

凯蒂·奥尔德雷德       动物行为学家和兽医护士

“我们知道，狗与主人的情感纽带是可以形成的，这种纽带确实与依恋模式有关，就像人类的情感纽带与依恋模式有关一样。这还是和催产素的作用有关，因为一些研究表明，催产素在这类纽带的形成中起着至关重要的作用。狗和动物确实是有情感的。快乐、沮丧、悲伤、放松。此时此刻，我的狗就都躺在我身边。”

 

But there is still a lot we can learn about our furry⁸ friends' emotions.

但关于我们毛茸茸的朋友的情感，仍有许多需要学习的地方。

 

Katey Aldred, animal behaviourist and veterinary nurse

"So we know from previous research that touching⁹ dogs can increase oxytocin levels and as there is that inference that the oxytocin has contributed to the tear production, it would really be great to know if it's just simply the presence of that owner or the way that the owner is interacting with them."

凯蒂·奥尔德雷德       动物行为学家和兽医护士

“我们从先前的研究中得知，狗被抚摸时催产素水平会增加，同时，因为推断出了催产素有助于分泌泪水，现在我们想知道，狗在快乐的情况下流泪这个反应只是因为主人在身边，还是因为主人与它们的互动方式。”

 

What scientists are sure of is that the owners felt more desire to care for their animals when they saw them with teary eyes.

科学家们确信的是，当主人看到眼含热泪的爱犬时，会更有照顾它们的意愿。

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