March 27, 2007 — Going right or left makes a big difference for tail wagging dogs, Italian
researchers have discovered.
Tails wag to the right when dogs are happy and see something they want to approach, and to
the left when they are frightened and confronted with something they want to run away from,
claim the researchers.
According to Giorgio Vallortigara of the University of Trieste, Angelo Quaranta and Marcello
Siniscalchi of Bari University, these "striking asymmetries in the control of tail movements"
are another example of how the right and left halves of the brain control different emotions.
They published their findings in a recent issue of the journal, Current Biology.
The researchers tested 30 family pet dogs — 15 males and 15 females with an age range of one
to six years — in a large rectangular wooden box covered with black plastic to prevent dogs
from seeing outside.
Next
researchers have discovered.
Tails wag to the right when dogs are happy and see something they want to approach, and to
the left when they are frightened and confronted with something they want to run away from,
claim the researchers.
According to Giorgio Vallortigara of the University of Trieste, Angelo Quaranta and Marcello
Siniscalchi of Bari University, these "striking asymmetries in the control of tail movements"
are another example of how the right and left halves of the brain control different emotions.
They published their findings in a recent issue of the journal, Current Biology.
The researchers tested 30 family pet dogs — 15 males and 15 females with an age range of one
to six years — in a large rectangular wooden box covered with black plastic to prevent dogs
from seeing outside.
Next
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