Abstract
Some cues used by humans and animals during human-animal interactions may have significant effects, modulating these interactions (e.g., gaze direction, heart rate). This study aimed to determine whether an animal in human-animal interactions is capable of "perceiving" its human partner's potential developmental "disabilities". To test this hypothesis, we studied guinea pigs (GP) behaviours in the presence of 44 6-to-12-year-old children with either typical development (TD children) or with autism spectrum disorders (ASD children). Thus, we recorded the GP behaviours during the entire session (to establish their time budget) and focused in particular on the onset and end of physical interactions. The GP behaviours (e.g., feeding, resting, self-grooming, exploring) were not significantly different between the two groups of children during the whole session. GP behaviours in the presence of children differed slightly when encountering ASD children versus TD children: more positive behaviours toward ASD children at the onset, more feeding and resting in the presence of TD children toward the end of an interaction. TD children showed longer-lasting interactions. One could explain this by GP curiosity toward ASD children behaviours (e.g., no marked behaviours such as attempts to touch), whereas GPs seemed calmer at the end with TD children (i.e., interacting with ASD children may be a little stressful). This partly gave support to our study's hypothesis. GPs seemed to perceive developmental disabilities during a first encounter with children and to adjust their behaviours to that of children. We discuss the issues of animal training, animals' well-being and acute stress, whether they are pets or used in animal-assisted interventions. Further studies (on pets or animal-assisted interventions) are warranted.
Highlights
Each individual has its own way to collect, perceive, decode, interpret and emit cues during interactions with its conspecifics
All analyses were based on 18 Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) children and 22 TD children
We recorded the same frequencies of guinea pigs (GP) interaction sequences during the 15-min session for ASD children and for TD
Summary
Each individual has its own way to collect, perceive, decode, interpret and emit cues during interactions with its conspecifics. As conspecifics represent an essential part of the environment of group-living individuals, humans can be considered a major element of domestic animals’ immediate environment [2]. During the first encounter between a human and a pet (e.g., a cat), physical contact was reported as the key event [3]. It has been confirmed in several studies that most interactions between humans and other mammal species are tactile contacts (with dogs [4], cats [3], rabbits [5], as well as guinea pigs (GP) [6,7]). Cues given by tactile interactions as well as other cues used by humans and animals in such contexts may have a significant effect, enabling them to modulate their interactions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
