Humans Hardwired to Tune Into Animals (http://news.discovery.com/animals/animals-humans-brain-response-110829.html)
QuoteYears of either running from or running after animals left its mark in the human brain -- even just looking at a photo of an animal jolts our brains into action.
No matter how high tech and urban we may become, animals continue to affect our brains like no other person, place or thing, shows new research in the latest issue of Nature Neuroscience.
Co-author Ralph Adolphs explained to Discovery News "that it is important for the brain to be able to rapidly detect animals. The reasons for this are probably several, but would likely include the need to avoid predators and catch prey."...
Can't escape from our evolutionary history! ;D
Not only do we go all gooey over baby animals, but I've often seen it work the other way round. Dogs, especially, recognise young humans and will often act protectively. Once a Bull Terrier bitch, an experienced mother, rolled on her side to give suck to my crawling baby daughter. Another bitch I owned, a Staffie, would play rough with adults but only very gently with the 8-year-old boy next door, and refused to play at all with his 5-year-old sister. I could give other instances.
Quote from: OldGit on August 30, 2011, 12:23:27 PM
Not only do we go all gooey over baby animals, but I've often seen it work the other way round. Dogs, especially, recognise young humans and will often act protectively.
This is true I think. My dog also changed her behaviour somewhat once my niece was born.
My dog growls at my niece but we don't know if she is growling to play or growling because she thinks baby is another dog. I have a cocker so she's pretty far removed from her wolf ancestors and may have lost the smarter instincts.
Oh man, you are talking to the person who annoys their girlfriend by watching baby animal videos on youtube for hours. XD I never get tired of baby animal vids!
Animals, being around or watching, seems to make me happy and/or more in touch with nature. I love it.
and nope, you cannot deny evolution. :)
I love animals. They are so damned tasty. ;D