Arched eyebrows and a sweet look

Do you know how dogs have learned to portray sadness so touchingly when they unobtrusively beg you for “treats” or ask to go to bed? It can be quite difficult to resist their “secret weapon”.

In 2019, scientists from the University of Portsmouth, tells BB.LV, who studied the anatomical differences between dogs and wolves, discovered an interesting nuance: During domestication, dogs developed a very small facial muscle that allows them to raise their eyebrows. Wolves lacked it, which led scientists to believe that dogs needed it. for better communication with people.

Previous studies have repeatedly proven that For dogs, eye contact with the owner is extremely important. Some studies have shown that humans also prefer breeds that perform certain facial movements, in particular, raising the inner eyebrow (a movement called AU101). The authors of the study explain:

“This movement makes dogs' eyes appear larger, giving them a cute 'puppy dog' look. It's also similar to the facial expressions humans make when they're sad.”

Scientists claim that AU101 has important in the relationship between a person and a dog, as it can evoke a certain “caring” reaction in a person. To test whether this physical characteristic is indeed the result of evolution as a result of domestication, the researchers looked closely at the anatomical differences between dogs and wolves, and the behavioral differences between the two species when interacting with humans.

Upon careful examination of the soft tissues, the study authors found that A tiny facial muscle called the “medial levator anguli oculi” was present in almost all dogs studied and was found in only a few wolves. Behavioural studies showed that dogs produced AU101 movements with significantly higher frequency and intensity than wolves.

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