When it comes to getting a companion animal, a guinea pig may not be the first animal that comes to mind. Usually, you may think of a cat, dog, or even a horse, but did you know that guinea pigs are social animals? These little guys do best with another guinea pig, but they can certainly provide companionship for humans. Given this information, do you wonder if guinea pigs sense human emotions? There is no conclusive evidence of guinea pigs being able to understand and sense human emotions; however, they are possibly good research models to study the human brain.
Read on to learn more about these little social animals.
Do Guinea Pigs Sense Human Emotions?
As mentioned above, there is no conclusive evidence that guinea pigs are able to sense human emotions. They can definitely be conditioned to respond to certain stimuli, but this seems to be more a feat of trainability rather than an emotion recognition.
In research, mice and rats are the most commonly used rodents for a better understanding of the human brain and emotions. Mice are currently the mammalian model of choice for studying gene–behavior interactions (such as emotions) because of their close genetic similarities to humans, and the ease with which their genome can be manipulated and analyzed 1. Rats are more social, display sophisticated sexual behaviors, strong spatial navigation, and learning. As such, they are favored in studying brain-behavior interactions. They are popular in anxiety studies as well.
Guinea pigs may not be the first choice for studying human brain conditions and analyzing emotion recognition. However, they are considered a promising species for such studies for several reasons:
- Guinea pig brains are a miniature copy of the human brain at many levels.
- Like humans, guinea pigs are born with eyes open with a relatively advanced development of the brain.
- Guinea pigs are one of the few species, alongside humans, which require vitamin C in their diet. Vitamin C may have some effects on some cognitive functions (such as attention), and as such, guinea pigs are probably a good model for studying such neurological interactions.
Unfortunately, though guinea pigs are promising species to further research human emotions, their ability to sense human emotions is still not conclusively proven by science. Rather, guinea pigs responding in a way that we would perceive as “sensing our emotions” is described in science as ‘behavioral sensitization’ – they become used to acting a certain way when we act in a specific way.
As such, the current scientific consensus is that guinea pigs have not been proven to recognize human emotions, and claims of their ability to do so are anecdotal and not proven via research.
Why Do Guinea Pigs Sense Emotions Better if You’re Bonded?
When you’re bonded with your Guinea pig, it will understand your normal moods and demeanor—that’s how they know something is “off” compared to your normal emotional state. Your Guinea pig will recognize your normal voice tone, and if it’s off, they will sense the mood change.
How Do I Form a Bond with My Guinea Pig?
Forming a bond with your Guinea pig will not come easily, and it will take time and devotion on your part. One way to form a bond is by spending quality time with your Guinea. The more time you spend with your Guinea pig, the more it will consider you a friend or leader. Another way to form a bond is to hand-feed your Guinea pig. Guinea pigs look at food as a reward, and they will look at it as a positive act. Don’t force it, however. If it seems nervous but looks like it wants to try it, gently toss the food into the cage. Persistence is key, so keep trying until your Guinea feels safe and comfortable.
Lying down with your Guinea pig is another excellent way to form a bond. Lay a blanket on the bed or floor and allow your Guinea to roam and investigate. As they get more and more comfortable, they may even sniff you or even crawl on you. It’s good to let your Guinea out of its cage at least once a day to explore and stretch its legs.
Lastly, talk to your Guinea! Guinea pigs are social and intelligent and will eventually get familiar with your voice. Ensure you speak in a calm and soothing tone to develop trust. And most importantly, be patient.
Tips for Keeping Your Guinea Pig Safe
If you’re thinking of getting a guinea pig, consider if you have the means to have at least two. Guinea pigs do better with a friend and can get depressed if left alone for long periods. Aim for the same gender if both Guinea pigs are still intact to prevent accidental babies; otherwise, you can pair a male and a female.
Always feed your Guinea pig appropriate foods, such as Timothy grass, meadow, oat, or brome hay, and always provide fresh drinking water 24/7. Keep your Guinea pig out of harm’s way if you have other pets in the home and keep the cage clean at all times.
Conclusion
Guinea pigs are intelligent little rodents that are quite the popular pet. They are sociable and clever enough to sense human emotions, but they will be more apt to sense your emotions if you’ve formed a bond with them. Always talk to your Guinea pig in a calm and soothing voice, and ensure you spend quality time. Let your Guinea pig out at least once a day for exploring and exercise and feed them the appropriate diet.
Avoid yelling or slamming objects near your Guinea pig, as this will make it afraid of you, and anger is a human emotion you don’t want your Guinea pig to sense.
Featured Image Credit: Pogodina Natalia, Shutterstock
