University of Arizona researchers develop tool to analyze human-pet verbal interactions

Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed AURAL-Pet, the first reliable tool designed to analyze how humans verbally interact with their dogs and cats. The system examines real-world recordings to classify interactions based on 30 behavioral variables, including praise, questions, commands, and expressions of frustration.

A study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry utilized the tool to analyze 5,072 audio fragments from 240 individuals. The findings revealed significant variations in how people communicate with pets, such as the frequency of using nicknames. Scientists believe these patterns may help explain the ‘pet effect’—the concept that living with animals can positively influence human health—which has previously yielded contradictory evidence.

The research team is currently applying AURAL-Pet to a study focused on the mental health of adults over the age of 60. Researchers noted that the tool’s primary advantage is its ability to observe actual behavior rather than relying solely on self-reported questionnaires.