Technology

Scientists create pig translator that decodes emotions from grunts

Scientists create pig translator that decodes emotions from grunts
Researchers have created an algorithm than can determine whether a pig grunt signals positive or negative emotion in the animal
Researchers have created an algorithm than can determine whether a pig grunt signals positive or negative emotion in the animal
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Researchers have created an algorithm than can determine whether a pig grunt signals positive or negative emotion in the animal
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Researchers have created an algorithm than can determine whether a pig grunt signals positive or negative emotion in the animal

An international team of researchers has reported the development of an algorithm that can translate the emotional state of pigs from the sound of their grunts. The researchers indicate the system could be used to monitor the well-being of pigs on a farm in real-time.

Domestic pigs display highly sophisticated varieties of vocal expression. Previous studies have established correlations between high frequency calls, such as squeals and screams, being associated with negative emotions, and low-frequency grunts being associated with positive or neutral emotions. But in between those two extremes are an assortment of sounds that are less understood.

The new research first set out to understand the broad array of pig vocalizations. To do this the researchers cataloged 7,414 different pig sounds, gathered from 411 animals.

Each pig sound was accompanied by close behavioral observations and, where possible, heart rate monitoring to establish positive or negative emotional associations. Positive scenarios were studied, such as piglets suckling or playing with toys, and emotionally negative scenarios were also tracked, including fights, separation from family and slaughter.

In general the findings validated prior observations linking high frequency calls with negative emotional states and low frequency sounds with positive emotional states. However, the researchers did discover a significant volume of calls that didn’t correlate with that simple distinction.

Two particular acoustic characteristics were found to be as important as frequency in understanding emotional valence: duration and amplitude modulation rate. For example, a high frequency squeal was determined to represent a positive emotion when it was short and contained few amplitude modulations.

"There are clear differences in pig calls when we look at positive and negative situations,” explained Elodie Briefer, an author on the study from the University of Copenhagen. “In the positive situations, the calls are far shorter, with minor fluctuations in amplitude. Grunts, more specifically, begin high and gradually go lower in frequency.”

The researchers then used a neural network to develop an algorithm that can translate the emotional characteristic of the pig sounds. In this proof-of-concept study the researchers claim the initial iteration of the algorithm can correctly translate pig emotions from their calls with 92 percent accuracy.

The long-term goal, according to the researchers, would be to develop some kind of app that can monitor the emotional well-being of commercial pigs in real-time. Briefer also hypothesizes their analytical method is transferable to other kinds of mammals, suggesting the possibility of a kind of universal translator that could track animal emotions by the sounds they make.

"We have trained the algorithm to decode pig grunts,” said Briefer. “Now, we need someone who wants to develop the algorithm into an app that farmers can use to improve the welfare of their animals.”

The new study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Source: University of Copenhagen

7 comments
7 comments
riczero-b
That'll do, pig. That'll do.
windykites
What is the pig grunt for "Please don't kill me"? This is really sad.
Nelson Hyde Chick
A reuse patent was awarded for aspirin as a fattening agent for pigs. Someone discovered if you gave pigs aspirin in their food they would eat more, thus making more meat when slaughtered. When I read it, I wondered if you could talk to the pig and ask them why they ate more when given aspirin, and if they said, "I eat more because this place they have me stored gives me a headache and the aspirin relieves that pain," which would invalidate the patent because it was just doing it original purpose.
Nelson Hyde Chick
Could they work on one for dogs? I would like to know what my dog is telling me.
Albert L
I wonder if perhaps someday using artificial intelligence it may be possible to figure out what it being communicated with animals like bottlenose dolphins or killer whales, orcas. I imagine with all their clicking noises, family and hunting practices they have things to talk about? Maybe not but perhaps it would lead to finding other species that do somehow communicate more and the computer can sort through, find patterns and translate to us. Like: Are you hungry? Yes let's hunt. Kid come closer. I feel sick.
Rustgecko
There's another possibility for this technology. As well as understanding the pigs, it may be possible to influence the pigs by speakers grunting to the pigs; for example reassuring calming grunts.

The technology will of course be used for other species, a kind of Dolittle-AI.
mattlass
When the world understands that pigs and other farm animals are sentient creatures like ourselves, meat would be shunned and meat-eaters would be shamed. I enjoy robust health in my sixties because I stopped eating meat decades ago. I have no health issues whatsoever, no aches or pains, and can walk ten miles without fatigue. Small amounts of meat remain in your intestines after elimination, and become putrified causing ailments like cancer. As to understanding the thoughts of all animals, DARPA has an algorithm in the works that will read the minds of prisoners of war, so it won't be long before animals will be able to express to us how unevolved we really are.