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Publications du LECD sur son site HAL
- [hal-01704322] Social competition and plasma testosterone profile in domesticated canaries: An experimental test of the challenge hypothesis8 février 2018The challenge hypothesis predicts that plasma testosterone (T) concentration is high when male – male competitions are high and decreases when males are engaged in paternal care. In monogamous species, T concentration increases at the beginning of the breeding period and decreases after egg laying. According to the challenge hypothesis, increasing competition should also lead to T increase. The aim of our study was to test this hypothesis. In a first experiment, we measured the T profile of domesticated canaries housed with their mate in separated cages without competition. In a second one, we created a competition by housing male and female domestic canaries together (in an aviary) and emphasized this competition by limiting food access. We also studied social status effect. Our results showed no effect of social status in both sexes and no differences in female's T concentration. Concerning males, we obtained a clear monogamous T profile from the ones housed in a low competition situation and a polygamous profile from the others housed in high competition situation. Thus, our results support the hypothesis of the plasticity of the mechanisms controlling T concentration according to environmental conditions. D
- [hal-01478479] Comparisons of Different Methods to Train a Young Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia Guttata) to Learn a Song21 novembre 2017Like humans, oscine songbirds exhibit vocal learning. They learn their song by imitating conspecifics, mainly adults. Among them, the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) has been widely used as a model species to study the behavioral, cellular and molecular substrates of vocal learning. Various methods using taped song playback have been used in the laboratory to train young male finches to learn a song. Since different protocols have been applied by different research groups, the efficiency of the studies cannot be directly compared. The purpose of our study was to address this problem. Young finches were raised by their mother alone from day post hatching (dph) 10 and singly isolated from dph 35. One week later, exposure to a song model began, either using a live tutor or taped playback (passive or self-elicited). At dph 100, the birds were transferred to a common aviary. We observed that one-to-one live tutoring is the best method to get a fairly complete imitation. Using self-elicited playback we observed high inter-individual variability; while some finches learned well (including good copying of the song model), others exhibited poor copying. Passive playback resulted in poor imitation of the model. We also observed that finches exhibited vocal changes after dph 100 and that the range of these changes was negatively related to their imitation of the song model. Taken together, these results suggest that social aspects are predominant in the success outcome of song learning in the zebra finch.
- [hal-01643606] Representation of Early Sensory Experience in the Adult Auditory Midbrain: Implications for Vocal Learning21 novembre 2017Vocal learning in songbirds and humans occurs by imitation of adult vocalizations. In both groups, vocal learning includes a perceptual phase during which juveniles birds and infants memorize adult vocalizations. Despite intensive research, the neural mechanisms supporting this auditory memory are still poorly understood. The present functional MRI study demonstrates that in adult zebra finches, the right auditory midbrain nucleus responds selectively to the copied vocalizations. The selective signal is distinct from selectivity for the bird's own song and does not simply reflect acoustic differences between the stimuli. Furthermore, the amplitude of the selective signal is positively correlated with the strength of vocal learning, measured by the amount of song that experimental birds copied from the adult model. These results indicate that early sensory experience can generate a long-lasting memory trace in the auditory midbrain of songbirds that may support song learning.
- [hal-05335666] First 1000 Days Strategies to Prevent Childhood Obesity: A Narrative Review and Recommendations From the EndObesity Consortium28 octobre 2025Childhood obesity remains a major global public health challenge, leading to significant short‐ and long‐term adverse health outcomes and imposing substantial societal costs. Recognising the critical importance of early intervention, the Horizon2020 EU‐funded JPI Consortium EndObesity has prioritised the first 1000 days of life, from preconception to 2 years of age, as a key window for obesity prevention strategies. This narrative review synthesises findings from the EndObesity Consortium, summarising evidence from large multi‐cohort studies on the influence of family‐based health behaviours in the first 1000 days on offspring obesity risk, the potential of childhood obesity prediction models in the first 1000 days, and strategies to enhance prenatal and postnatal interventions to prevent childhood obesity development. Finally, we present recommendations for research, practice, and policy to address the complex, multifaceted challenges of childhood obesity prevention in the first 1000 days.
- [hal-05327470] Personality traits of aged dogs according to their cognitive status23 octobre 2025<div><p>Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) syndrome is a neurodegenerative condition that shares similarities with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in humans. In human studies, high neuroticism, low openness, and low extraversion have been significantly associated with AD diagnosis. Similarly, changes in dog behaviour, including alterations in personality, have been reported as common features in dogs with CCD, but no precise assessment of their changes has yet been realised. The aim of this study (based on the CaniAge cohort) was to compare characteristics of dogs with cognitive impairment (CI dogs) and non-CI dogs in a French senior dog population including owner-reported personality traits between dogs. Data were collected via an online survey, including the CADES scale (Canine Dementia Scale), the Monash Canine Personality Questionnaire, the Canine Owner-Reported Quality of Life (CORQ) assessment, and an environment questionnaire. Dogs aged of 6 years and older were included. Responses were obtained for 566 senior dogs of various breeds, with a median age of 9.86 years (Interquartile range: 8.08-11.98). Among them, 234 were classified as cognitively impaired, including 182 with mild impairment, 44 with moderate impairment, and 8 with severe impairment or dementia. Compared to non-CI dogs, CI dogs scored significantly lower on extraversion and amicability, and higher on neuroticism. After adjustment, CI dogs showed significantly lower amicability and higher neuroticism compared to non-CI dogs. This study is complementary of previous studies regarding CI-characteristics but is also the first to explore personality trait differences between CI and non-CI dogs, supporting observations previously reported in Alzheimer's disease research.</p></div>
- [hal-04672457] Human-dog trust and cohesion within French military canine teams19 août 2024Studies on the relationships and interactions within human-dog teams in the French Army are scarce. In order to better understand this subject, a qualitative exploratory study was undertaken by conducting semi-structured interviews with dog handlers (n = 16). The interviewees work in the French Army. They are specialized in the detection and neutralization of individuals or explosives. Thematic analysis identified different themes: trust within the team, doubts, interspecific cohesion, and care provided to the dogs. The results highlight the importance of trust within the canine team. It is conceived as a dynamic, constructed process, based on experience, and involving both members of the team. It emerges that trust arises from individual, relational, technical, and experiential factors: the bonds formed, knowledge of one’s dog, difficulties related to technical aspects, the reliability of the dog following training, and mission successes. Kindness, support, and mutual protection are also important criteria. A form of interspecific cohesion is envisaged by experienced handlers when affection, knowledge, reliability, mutual assistance, and support are present.
- [hal-04532112] Working with dogs in olfactory searches in the French Armed Forces and national Police Forces4 avril 2024This study aims to investigate the relationships and cooperation within human-dog teams working in olfactory search in the French Armed Forces and in national Police Forces. Twenty-six semi-structured interviews were carried out with canine handlers. The main topic concerned working with their dog during olfactory searches. Among the themes that stand out are relationships with their dog and canine knowledge and practices. Minor differences and similarities between dyads of the two institutions are identified in human-dog relationships. Regarding relationships with dogs, two main differences are linked to the long missions abroad experienced by Armed Forces handlers and the possibility of welcoming dogs into their homes for Police Forces. The constitution of canine knowledge and practices is rooted in experiences and transactions with dogs, but also in social transmission. Even though there is no major differences between the two institutions, this study highlights the interest of having a situated approach.
- [hal-04559278] Fathers’ and mothers’ infant directed speech influences preterm infant behavioral state in the NICU25 avril 2024Preterm infants’ behavioral state and physiological parameters are affected by environmental noise and adult voices. Only a handful of studies have explored the effects of direct maternal vocal communication on preterm infants’ autonomous nervous system responses. Furthermore, to our knowledge, no study to date has investigated the effect of the father’s voice on preterm infant’s behaviors and physiological parameters. This study evaluated the effects of both mothers’ and fathers’ infant-directed speech on preterm infants’ behavioral states. Fourteen stable, premature infants serving as their own controls were videotaped while their mother and father were speaking to them for 5 min over 2 consecutive days. Infants’ behavioral states and state lability were coded for each voice presentation (father and mother), in the three different conditions, before, during, and after the intervention. Present results show an interaction between vocal intervention and infant behavioral state. Both maternal and paternal speech modified infant behavioral state, but no significant difference in the behavioral state distribution was observed between mother’s and father’s voice presentation. Infants spent more time in a quiet alert state when they heard both voices compared to no vocalization baseline. These findings indicate the importance of both the fathers’ and the mothers’ voice for preterm infants. The parental vocal intervention has an awakening effect. Further studies are needed to better identify the benefits for preterm infants of a relational care approach.
- [hal-04953372] Technological advances for getting insight into the learning capacities of birds in the vocal domain18 février 2025Abstract Birds produce different types of sounds in different contexts such as begging for food in youngsters, alerting to a danger, defending a territory or attracting a sexual partner. About half of the bird species are able to transform their vocalizations through imitation, improvisation or invention of sounds. Here we review the different experimental procedures that have been used to study the learning capacities of birds in the vocal domain and in the auditory domain, with a particular emphasis on recent technological developments. Nowadays, it is possible to record individual vocalizations of birds living in social groups or to record continuously the vocal ontogeny of birdsong. In conditioning experiments, new paradigms have successfully replaced food rewards with a socio-sexual reward. It is possible to engage in vocal interactions with a bird using dedicated computer systems. In both the laboratory and more recently in the field, different techniques have been used to train young oscine songbirds to learn from acoustic models. The use of virtual social environments and robots as social agents are also promising avenues. All together, these new techniques will permit researchers to explore more deeply the umwelt of bird species.
- [hal-04953373] Effects of screen exposure on young children’s cognitive development: A review18 février 2025The past decade has witnessed a rapid increase in the use of screen media in families, and infants are exposed to screens at younger ages than ever before. The objective of this review is twofold: (1) to understand the correlates and demographic factors determining exposure to screens, including interactive screens, when available, and (2) to study the effects of watching screens and using touchscreens on cognitive development, during the first 3 years of life. We argue that the effects of screen viewing depend mostly on contextual aspects of the viewing rather than on the quantity of viewing. That context includes the behavior of adult caregivers during viewing, the watched content in relation to the child’s age, the interactivity of the screen and whether the screen is in the background or not. Depending on the context, screen viewing can have positive, neutral or negative effects on infants’ cognition.
- [hal-04953374] Design of a robotic zebra finch for experimental studies on developmental song learning18 février 2025ABSTRACT Birdsong learning has been consolidated as the model system of choice for exploring the biological substrates of vocal learning. In the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), only males sing and they develop their song during a sensitive period in early life. Different experimental procedures have been used in the laboratory to train a young finch to learn a song. So far, the best method to achieve a faithful imitation is to keep a young bird singly with an adult male. Here, we present the different characteristics of a robotic zebra finch that was developed with the goal to be used as a song tutor. The robot is morphologically similar to a life-sized finch: it can produce movements and sounds contingently to the behaviours of a live bird. We present preliminary results on song imitation, and other possible applications beyond the scope of developmental song learning.
- [hal-04953402] L’écran est-il bon ou mauvais pour le jeune enfant ?18 février 2025Le taux d’exposition des enfants à l’écran augmente et devient de plus en plus précoce. Aujourd’hui, selon plusieurs enquêtes américaines, 90% des enfants de moins de deux ans regardent l’écran pendant en moyenne deux heures par jour, et ce malgré les recommandations contraires de l’Académie Américaine de Pédiatrie et du Ministère de la Santé Français. L’objectif de cette revue est double : (1) comprendre les corrélats et les facteurs démographiques déterminant l’exposition à la télévision et (2) étudier les effets de la télévision sur le développement cognitif du jeune enfant. La littérature scientifique montre que l’effet de l’écran dépend moins de la durée de visionnage hebdomadaire que de l’âge et des contextes dans lesquels les enfants regardent l’écran (accompagnés ou non) ainsi que des contenus regardés (éducatifs ou non). Prises dans leur ensemble, les études montrent que l’exposition aux écrans a un impact négatif sur le développement, particulièrement quand l’exposition concerne des enfants âgés de moins de trois ans.
- [hal-05288877] Two Emotional Roots of Youths’ Earth-Friendly Career Aspirations: Eco-Anxiety and Empathy Toward Animals29 septembre 2025The present study examined the role of eco-emotions in youths’ career development. We hypothesized that eco-anxiety and empathy toward animals account for children’s and adolescents’ earth-friendly career aspirations (EFCAs). Relying on focus groups of third-to-ninth-grade French students, we used a thematic analysis to explore their view of careers that respect the earth. The main themes uncovered were used to construct a self-report EFCA scale. French third-to-ninth graders ( N = 587, 51% girls) from middle-to-high socio-economic levels participated in a survey assessing EFCA, eco-anxiety, and empathetic attitudes toward animals. The results showed that these two emotions made independent contributions to EFCAs. The EFCAs were lower in early adolescents than in children, and higher in girls than in boys. We propose that eco-emotions are adaptive and function as a “watchtower” by enhancing youths’ earth-friendly plans for their adult life. We discuss the relevance of taking EFCAs and eco-emotions into account in career counseling.
- [hal-05249036] Evaluation of the Factorial Structures of the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) in France1 octobre 2025This study aimed to evaluate the factorial structure of the French version of the C-BARQ by analyzing the behaviour of 246 dogs, based on responses from 248 participants, in order to confirm its potential applicability in France. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) identified 13 primary factors comprising 63 items, explaining 54.1 % of the total variance and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed a good fit with the original US model. The French version of the C-BARQ mirrors the core structure of other validated versions, confirming its cross-cultural robustness, while also highlighting certain specificities. The emergence of the combined factor "Stranger-directed aggression/fear" suggests that non-expert respondents may have difficulty distinguishing between these two dimensions. Two new factors—"Passerby-directed aggression " and "Compulsive-like behaviour"—emerged, likely reflecting the characteristics of the study sample and the inclusion of the full set of items. Other notable differences include the clustering of certain attachment-related items with those related to energy, forming a new factor labeled "Social excitability/energy," as well as the absence of the "Dog rivalry" factor due to insufficient responses. Overall, the results indicate that the French version of the C-BARQ is a valid tool for assessing canine behaviour. However, cultural, contextual, and demographic differences should be considered when interpreting the findings. This study paves the way for future research on the factors influencing perceptions of canine behaviour and on the adaptation of psychometric instruments across cultural contexts.
- [hal-04681106] Outil numérique innovant à destination des jeunes S/sourds et des jeunes malentendants (ONISE) : un questionnaire en ligne sur leur épanouissement relationnel13 septembre 2024L’objectif de cette étude transversale est d’investiguer l’épanouissement relationnel de jeunes S/sourds et de jeunes malentendants français au sortir de l’adolescence. Compte tenu de l’inexistence d’un outil adapté et accessible pour recueillir l’avis de ces jeunes, le préalable à cet objectif a été la construction d’un auto-questionnaire en ligne, élaboré dans le cadre d’un appel à projet. Pour le recueil des données, nous avons eu recours au questionnaire en ligne, à des observations participantes en établissements pour les S/sourds, de même qu’à des focus groupes de jeunes sourds et de jeunes malentendants dans ces établissements. Les résultats obtenus sur 40 jeunes, âgés de 18 à 25 ans, montrent que leur épanouissement relationnel en termes de qualité de vie, de participation sociale et d’humeur dépressive n’est pas très éloigné de l’épanouissement relationnel d’autres jeunes S/sourds d’origine différente ou de jeunes français entendants. L’accessibilité de l’outil est globalement satisfaisante même si les observations et les analyses des échanges issus des focus groupes mettent en évidence des difficultés d’accès à certaines questions.
- [hal-01244841] Sex Differences in Language Across Early Childhood: Family Socioeconomic Status does not Impact Boys and Girls Equally17 décembre 2015Child sex and family socioeconomic status (SES) have been repeatedly identified as a source of inter-individual variation in language development; yet their interactions have rarely been explored. While sex differences are the focus of a renewed interest concerning emerging language skills, data remain scarce and are not consistent across preschool years. The questions of whether family SES impacts boys and girls equally, as well as of the consistency of these differences throughout early childhood, remain open. We evaluated consistency of sex differences across SES and age by focusing on how children (N = 262), from 2;6 to 6;4 years old, from two contrasting social backgrounds, acquire a frequent phonological alternation in French – the liaison. By using a picture naming task eliciting the production of obligatory liaisons, we found evidence of sex differences over the preschool years in low-SES children, but not between high-SES boys and girls whose performances were very similar. Low-SES boys' performances were the poorest whereas low-SES girls' performances were intermediate, that is, lower than those of high-SES children of both sexes but higher than those of low-SES boys. Although all children's mastery of obligatory liaisons progressed with age, our findings showed a significant impeding effect of low-SES, especially for boys.
- [hal-04035318] Predictors of Intentions to Eat Healthily in 8–9-Year-Old Children17 mars 2023One thousand two hundred seventy-two French children aged 8–9 years old participated in a study aimed at identifying predictors of healthy eating intention. We used a survey based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Regression analyses were performed to assess the extent to which the extended TPB variables explained intention to eat healthily. The results indicated that attitude, parental norms, friend's norms, knowledge, motivation to conform to friends' and parental norms and perceived behavioral control accounted for 35% of the variance of intention to eat healthily. The most important predictor in this study was perceived as behavioral control.
- [hal-04687928] Young children's difficulties in switching from rhythm production to temporal interval production (>1 s)4 septembre 2024In order to efficiently perform audio-motor coordination children must process event duration. It has recently been shown that duration processing in adults involves two distinct, or at least hierarchically interrelated, processes. The processing of durations ranging from a hundred milliseconds to around one second is well accounted for by the Scalar Timing Theory. For duration above one second, temporal processing in adults appears to be task-dependent. Performances in the range of a hundred millisecond durations are usually studied with auditory tempo tasks. In this study, we examine timing performance in children for a large range of durations, from 400 ms to 4 seconds, using the same experimental design. The procedure consists in a motor synchronization task. Overall, our results show that 5 year olds perform better than 3 year olds. However, durations greater than, 1500 ms are difficult to process, leading to increasing variability in produced intervals. Moreover, only a few children are able to produce very long duration intervals. The main finding of this study confirms the existence of a break in the region of 1500 ms when a repeated synchronization task is tested. Consistently with the adult literature, this finding suggests the existence of two duration-dependent timing processes when children have to coordinate their motor behavior to external events
- [hal-01478457] L'éthique animale au croisement des perspectives de recherche entre éthologie et philosophie28 février 2017Des recherches conduites récemment en éthologie tendent à considérer les animaux comme des agents moraux. Ils ne concernent que peu d’espèces, primates surtout, et étudient essentiellement les comportements liés à l’empathie et le sentiment d’injustice. Ces deux thématiques coïncident avec certains travaux menés en psychologie et en philosophie morales qui suggèrent que notre capacité morale s’appuie sur au moins deux principales sous-capacités consacrées respectivement à un sens du juste et à un sens du bon. Ces recherches influencent notre manière de concevoir la morale et notre relation avec les animaux.
- [hal-04449520] Racial Categorization and Intergroup Relations in Children: The Role of Social Status and Numerical Group Size9 février 2024The aim of this review was to examine the effect of social and numerical group size on racial categorization and intergroup relations in children. We first described the development of racial categorization and the factors that increase the saliency of the race criterion in different contexts. Then, we examine the role of social status in intergroups relations and show that low status children express lower ingroup favoritism compared to their peers from high status groups. Few studies investigated the role of ingroup size on intergroup biases. Here, we look at this numerical variable through the proportion of children of different racial groups in the school environment. The results show that homogeneous environments contribute to the decrease of bias and negative attitudes. We discuss how identifying specific and interactive effects of the social and numerical group size would allow us to implement early and efficient intervention programs.
- [hal-01644067] Influence of auditory tempo on the endogenous rhythm of non-nutritive sucking21 novembre 2017[...]
- [hal-04405861] Examining differences in minority versus majority preschoolers on social categorization and perceived intergroup distance19 janvier 2024Abstract We examined the differences between majority and minority children (i.e., group membership) on racial categorization and perceived cultural distance, among 4‐ to 6‐year‐old children, in low diversified schools. We used a spontaneous social categorization task using pictures of children from three different racial groups broadly represented in France (Europeans, Black‐, and North‐Africans), and an evaluation of the perceived cultural distance between participants' in‐group and the racial group represented in the picture, adapted to children and based on three factors (language, eating habits, and music). Results revealed an effect of age on racial categorization: the older the children, the more successful they are in this task. They showed a significant effect of the racial group represented in the photos on perceived cultural distance: members of minority groups (i.e., Black‐ and North‐Africans) were evaluated as more different compared to those of the majority group on each of the factors. Finally, we got an interaction between participants' in‐group and the racial group represented in the pictures, for the language factor: members of the majority group perceived as more different photographs representing minorities peers than those representing majority peers, while participants belonging to minority groups perceived no differences between photographs, according to the racial criteria.
- [hal-04133300] Young children’s difficulties in switching from rhythm production to temporal interval production (>1 s)19 juin 2023This study examined the young children's abilities to switch from rhythm production, with short inter-tap intervals (ITIs), to temporal interval production, with long ITI (>1 s), in a sensorimotor synchronization task. Children aged 3-and 5-year-olds were given six sessions of synchronization. In a control group, they had to synchronize their ITI to an inter-stimulus interval (ISI) of 4 s. In the experimental group, they must progressively increase their ITI for one session to the next (from 0.4 to 4.0-s ISI). Our results showed that the 5-yearolds produced longer ITI that the 3-year-olds in synchronization. However, the value of ITI in the 5-year-olds never exceeded 1.5 s, with more variable ITI in the control than in the experimental group. In addition, at 5 years, boys had more difficulties than girls in changing their tapping rhythm. These results suggest a temporal window in sensorimotor synchronization, beyond which the rhythm is lost and the synchronization becomes difficult.
- [hal-01480085] Psychological Disorders and Ecological Factors Affect the Development of Executive Functions: Some Perspectives3 février 2021The links between deficits in executive functions (EFs) (e.g., mental flexibility, inhibition capacities, etc.) and some psychological disorders (e.g., anxiety and depressive disorders) have been investigated in the past decades or so.
- [hal-04045804] Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Peers: Links to Young Adulthood Friendship Quality25 mars 2023Few studies have been carried out on emerging adults' friendships and on their developmental roots. Research suggests that in adolescence, both attachment to parents and attachment to peers play a role in future socio-emotional development. The aim of the present study was to compare attachment in these two types of relationships in adolescence according to gender and test whether they respectively predicted the perception of best friendship in early adulthood. A sample of 83 participants (49 girls) was seen in early adolescence (M = 13.66 years, SD = 0.64) and 7 years later (mean age = 21.15 years, SD = 0.83). At T1, participants completed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, which measures attachment using three subscales (communication, alienation and trust) and one global security score. At T2, they completed the McGill Friendship Questionnaire. Results show that in adolescence, boys report higher security with parents compared to peers (mainly due to better communication), unlike girls who obtain higher scores with peers. Longitudinal findings reveal that alienation in the relation with parents is what best predicts friendship quality in early adulthood. These findings underline the specific internal working models at play in socio-emotional development and the way gender differences evolve from adolescence to early adulthood. Highlights: Contrary to female adolescents, males reported higher security with parents compared to peers (mainly due to better communication). Female adolescents reported better communication with peers than males. No gender difference in friendship quality in emerging adulthood was found. Results suggest that the progressive broadening of attachment from parents to peers occurs earlier for girls than for boys. Alienation in the relation with parents in early adolescence predicts friendship quality in early adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- [hal-02887830] Tempo Discrimination in 3-and 4-year-old children: performances and threshold2 juillet 2020Durations of less than one second are involved in all kinds of activities, such as music perception or rhythmical production tasks. It is therefore important to know how short durations are processed at a young age. This study aims to define discrimination performance between 3-and 4-year-olds (tempo discrimination). The first 4 years of life are essential for cognitive development and there is little data concerning those years due to the extreme difficulty of finding methods to assess children's timing performances. Moreover, the results yielded by previous experiments are controversial. Our data revealed that discrimination performances improve significantly within only a few months. The discrimination data from 3 and 4 year-olds are compared to those from older children. The overall results are discussed in a developmental model context.
- [hal-02887838] Régulation rythmique avant 4 ans : effet d'un tempo auditif sur le tempo moteur2 juillet 2020L'objectif de cette étude est d'analyser les capacités de l'enfant âgé de 1 ½ à 3 ½ ans à modifier son tempo moteur spontané (TMS) en fonction de tempi auditifs. Les résultats montrent que le TMS reste constant entre 1 ½ et 3 ½ ans et que, parallèlement, il devient plus régulier. Les enfants les plus âgés modifient leurs rythmes de frappes si le tempo auditif diffère d'au moins 20 % de leurs propres rythmes. La capacité des enfants à ralentir leurs rythmes de frappes se met en place plus tardivement que leur accéléra-tion. Enfin, les modifications du rythme de frappes induisent une modification équivalente du TMS mais transitoire.
- [hal-01478437] Effect of Interaction Type on the Characteristics of Pet-Directed Speech in Female Dog Owners28 février 2017Recent studies focusing on the interspecific communicative interactions between humans and dogs show that owners use a special speech register when addressing their dog. This register, called pet-directed speech (PDS), has prosodic and syntactic features similar to that of infant-directed speech (IDS). While IDS prosody is known to vary according to the context of the communication with babies, we still know little about the way owners adjust acoustic and verbal PDS features according to the type of interaction with their dog. The aim of the study was therefore to explore whether the characteristics of women's speech depend on the nature of interaction with their dog. We recorded 34 adult women interacting with their dog in four conditions: before a brief separation, after reuniting, during play and while giving commands. Our results show that before separation women used a low pitch, few modulations, high intensity variations and very few affective sentences. In contrast, the reunion interactions were characterized by a very high pitch, few imperatives and a high frequency of affectionate nicknames. During play, women used mainly questions and attention-getting devices. Finally when commanding, women mainly used imperatives as well as attention-getting devices. Thus, like mothers using IDS, female owners adapt the verbal as well as the non-verbal characteristics of their PDS to the nature of the interaction with their dog, suggesting that the intended function of these vocal utterances remains to provide dogs with information about their intentions and emotions.
- [hal-04700317] Cognitive performance of grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) during a discrimination learning task: Effect of the emotional valence of stimuli17 septembre 2024Emotions are omnipresent in many animals' lives. It is a complex concept that encompasses physiological, subjective, behavioural and cognitive aspects. While the complex relationship between emotion and cognition has been well studied in humans and in some nonhuman primates, it remains rather unexplored for other nonhuman primate species, such as lemurs. In our study, we evaluated the performance of N = 48 grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) in a discrimination learning task using visual emotional stimuli. We tested whether the type of visual stimulus (positive, negative or neutral) influenced the cognitive performance of mouse lemurs. Individuals had to learn to discriminate between two platforms according to the associated visual stimuli and to jump to the target platform (leading to a reward). Our main finding was that emotional stimuli, whether positive or negative in valence, impaired cognitive performance when used as a target.<p>Specifically, the lowest success rate occurred when the target was associated with the emotional stimuli, and the highest success rate occurred when it was associated with neutral stimuli. Our results show a similar pattern to that found in other primate species and support the adaptive role of emotion. Our results also support that individual differences could be a factor impacting the relation between emotion and cognition. This study is the first to explore how emotions interfere with the cognitive abilities of a lemur species and highlights the importance of acknowledging emotion in mouse lemurs as well as studying the emotion-cognition interaction in a wider range of primate species.</p>
- [hal-03861918] How’s my kitty? Acoustic parameters of cat-directed speech in human-cat interactions20 novembre 2022In Western cultures, humans tend to use a specific kind of speech when talking to their pets, characterised, from an acoustical point of view, by elevated pitch and greater pitch modulation. Pet-directed speech (PDS), which has been mainly studied in dogs, shares some acoustic features with infant-directed speech (IDS), used when talking to young children. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that adult humans also modify characteristics of their voice when talking to a cat. We compared acoustic parameters of speech directed to cats (CDS) and speech directed to adult humans (ADS). In a first experiment, we compared ADS and CDS utterances of male and female participants, addressing cats through video recordings, under controlled laboratory conditions. Both men and women used a higher pitch (mean fundamental frequency, or mean F0) in CDS vs. ADS. The second experiment was conducted under conditions allowing direct cat-human interactions, in a cohort of women. Once again, mean F0 was significantly higher in CDS vs. ADS. Overall, these data confirm our hypothesis that humans change the way they speak when addressing a cat, mainly by increasing the pitch of their voice. Further research is needed to fully investigate specificities of this speech.
- [hal-01478468] Motivation and Manipulation Capacities of the Blue and Yellow Macaw and the Tufted Capuchin: A Comparative Approach28 février 2017This study compared the motivation of the blue and yellow macaw (n = 8) and the tufted capuchin (n = 3) to manipulate objects that presented different features, their manipulative repertoires, and their ability to solve complex manipulation tasks. Results show that both species seem to be more motivated to manipulate objects that look like food items and that manipulative behavior may be considered as play behavior in the blue and yellow macaws, and would improve foraging motor skills. The tufted capuchins performed more different action styles than the macaws when manipulating objects, and performed substrate-use behavior - the object is put in relationship with a substrate - while the macaws did not. This is an interesting difference because these characteristics are supposed to be precursory of tool-use, behavior never observed in this macaw species. It may be due to the arboreal lifestyle of the macaw and its neophobic character that do not allow it to easily contact objects. Following the same method and using more individuals, further comparative studies should be conducted in order to test these hypotheses. Both species were able to solve complex manipulation tasks.
- [hal-01699823] Pet-directed speech draws adult dogs’ attention more efficiently than Adult-directed speech2 février 2018Humans speak to dogs using a special speech register called Pet-Directed Speech (PDS) which is very similar to Infant-Directed Speech (IDS) used by parents when talking to young infants. These two type of speech share prosodic features that are distinct from the typical Adult-Directed Speech (ADS): a high pitched voice and an increased pitch variation. So far, only one study has investigated the effect of PDS on dogs' attention. We video recorded 44 adult pet dogs and 19 puppies when listening to the same phrase enounced either in ADS or in PDS or in IDS. The phrases were previously recorded and were broadcasted via a loudspeaker placed in front of the dog. The total gaze duration of the dogs toward the loudspeaker, was used as a proxy of attention. Results show that adult dogs are significantly more attentive to PDS than to ADS and that their attention significantly increases along with the rise of the fundamental frequency of human' speech. It is likely that the exaggerated prosody of PDS is used by owners as an ostensive cue for dogs that facilitates the effectiveness of their communication, and should represent an evolutionarily determined adaptation that benefits the regulation and maintenance of their relationships. Humans speak to dogs using a special speech register called pet-directed speech (PDS) 1–4 , which is very similar to infant-directed speech (IDS) used by parents when talking to young infants. These two types of speech share prosodic and syntactic features that are distinct from the typical adult-directed speech (ADS): a high pitched voice, an increased pitch variation, short utterances, a reduced syntactic and semantic complexity, and word repetitions 1–5. PDS and IDS are also commonly described as 'happy voices' , in comparison to ADS presenting a relatively inhibited emotional content 6. Both speeches have been shown to vary according to the interaction context 7–9 , for instance PDS' prosodic features are enhanced in a positive reunion situation 9. Several studies suggest that IDS is used by humans in order to modulate infants' attention and state of arousal and to communicate their positive affect and intentions in a non-verbal way 10–14. IDS may also facilitate the emergence of language in infants by emphasizing the linguistic structure 15, 16 , for instance by using hyperaticulation of vowels 2, 3, 17 , or words repetition 18. Authors highlighted these functions in studying babies' preference for IDS toward ADS 19, 20 : infants have a longer fixation on, or turn more often the head toward visual targets that produced IDS 19. Infants also better remember and look longer at adults who have addressed them with IDS 20 , and this preference is present when IDS is produced by the infants' own mother as well as by an unfamiliar mother 12, 20. In addition, the exaggerated acoustic features of IDS elicit increased neural activity in infants, related to atten-tional processing 21. Infants also present increased social and affective responsiveness while listening to IDS compared to ADS 19. PDS and IDS may be similar because both infants and dogs are non-verbal listeners and because the affective bond between owners and dogs mirrors the human parents-infant bond. Indeed, both owners and dogs experience an important secretion of oxytocin after a brief period of cuddling 22 and a study highlighted common brain activation when mothers viewed images of both their child and dog 23. In the context of human-dog communication, there is evidence that dogs present an increased neuronal activity in the auditory cortex when listening to vocalizations with positive emotional valence compared to negative or neutral emotional valence 24. Moreover, after a greeting involving eye contact and a high pitched voice, dogs are more likely to follow the humans gaze, similarly to young children do 25, 26. Similarly, dogs are more motivated to answer a command to find hidden food in high-pitched informative than in low-pitched imperative trials 27 , suggesting that they are sensitive to the nonverbal quality of human vocal signals.
- [hal-04233451] Limb Preference in Animals: New Insights into the Evolution of Manual Laterality in Hominids28 mai 2024Until the 1990s, the notion of brain lateralization—the division of labor between the two hemispheres—and its more visible behavioral manifestation, handedness, remained fiercely defined as a human specific trait. Since then, many studies have evidenced lateralized functions in a wide range of species, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. In this review, we highlight the great contribution of comparative research to the understanding of human handedness’ evolutionary and developmental pathways, by distinguishing animal forelimb asymmetries for functionally different actions—i.e., potentially depending on different hemispheric specializations. Firstly, lateralization for the manipulation of inanimate objects has been associated with genetic and ontogenetic factors, with specific brain regions’ activity, and with morphological limb specializations. These could have emerged under selective pressures notably related to the animal locomotion and social styles. Secondly, lateralization for actions directed to living targets (to self or conspecifics) seems to be in relationship with the brain lateralization for emotion processing. Thirdly, findings on primates’ hand preferences for communicative gestures accounts for a link between gestural laterality and a left-hemispheric specialization for intentional communication and language. Throughout this review, we highlight the value of functional neuroimaging and developmental approaches to shed light on the mechanisms underlying human handedness.
- [hal-04410046] Technological advances for getting insight into the learning capacities of birds in the vocal domain22 janvier 2024Abstract Birds produce different types of sounds in different contexts such as begging for food in youngsters, alerting to a danger, defending a territory or attracting a sexual partner. About half of the bird species are able to transform their vocalizations through imitation, improvisation or invention of sounds. Here we review the different experimental procedures that have been used to study the learning capacities of birds in the vocal domain and in the auditory domain, with a particular emphasis on recent technological developments. Nowadays, it is possible to record individual vocalizations of birds living in social groups or to record continuously the vocal ontogeny of birdsong. In conditioning experiments, new paradigms have successfully replaced food rewards with a socio-sexual reward. It is possible to engage in vocal interactions with a bird using dedicated computer systems. In both the laboratory and more recently in the field, different techniques have been used to train young oscine songbirds to learn from acoustic models. The use of virtual social environments and robots as social agents are also promising avenues. All together, these new techniques will permit researchers to explore more deeply the umwelt of bird species.
- [hal-04767165] Is That You I Hear? Speaker Familiarity Modulates Neural Signatures of Lexical-semantic Activation in 18-month-old Infants5 novembre 2024Abstract Developmental language studies have shown that lexical-semantic organization develops between 18 and 24 months of age in monolingual infants. In the present study, we aimed to examine whether voice familiarity facilitates lexical-semantic activation in the infant brain. We recorded the brain activity of 18-month-old, French-learning infants using EEG while they listened to taxonomically related and unrelated spoken word pairs by one voice with which they were familiarized with before the experiment, and one voice with which they were not familiarized. The ERPs were measured in response to related and unrelated target words. Our results showed an N400 effect (greater amplitudes for unrelated as opposed to related target words) over the left hemisphere, only for the familiar voice, suggesting that the voice familiarity facilitated lexical-semantic activation. For unfamiliar voices, we observed an earlier congruence effect (greater amplitudes for related than for unrelated target words). This suggests that although 18-month-olds process lexical-semantic information from unfamiliar speakers, their neural signatures of lexical-semantic processing are less mature. Our results show that even in the absence of personal relation with a speaker, familiarity with a voice augments infant lexical-semantic processing. This supports the idea that extralinguistic information plays a role in infant lexical-semantic activation.
- [hal-04822765] Mechanical problem solving by plush-crested jays1 septembre 2025Tool use is taxonomically associated with high behavioural flexibility and innovativeness, and its prevalence is greater in primates and some bird species. This association, however, is not known to be causally determinant of tool-related competence since flexibility and innovativeness are often observed in the absence of tool use and vice versa. For this reason, it is interesting to explore whether animals that can be loosely categorized as outstanding, or ‘intelligent’ physical problem solvers, are also remarkable using tools innovatively, rather than tool use presenting special constraints. We investigate this problem using plush-crested jays (Cyanocorax chrysops), a corvid new to cognitive research that shows highly flexible and inquisitive behaviour in the wild and has not been reported to use tools. We tested jays in two tasks of apparent similar manipulative complexity and incentive, one involving a tool (T) and the other not (NT). In the NT task birds had to open a box with a transparent lid blocked by a latch to get a reward, whereas in the T task, they had to use a rake to pull out the reward from the box. Eight out of nine subjects succeeded in the NT task, whereas none of them learned to solve the T task. This is consistent with tool use involving dedicated competencies, rather than just high problem-solving proficiency.
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- Médias
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ACTUALITES
2023/06/30 - Articles de Johana Ryšavá- Infants can distinguish between sounds of different bird species, as discovered at the University of Nanterre
- Why should we fight for the education of our children?
2022/04/07 - Michel Kreutzer, sur France Culture (du 04/04/2022 au 07/04/2022 - disponible en podcast en intégralité dès le lundi après la diffusion du premier épisode), dans l'émission LSD - Série documentaire "L'intelligence du vivant", de Franck Bessière, réalisée par Anne Fleury
1er épisode - "Définir le vivant" « Depuis pas mal d'années, on se rend compte que les êtres vivants, les organismes, notamment les vertébrés supérieurs, les oiseaux, les mammifères, recherchent également ce qui est source de plaisir. Un vivant, c'est donc aussi un être qui recherche des plaisirs et qui essaie d'éviter les déplaisirs. C'est une des raisons sans doute pour laquelle aujourd'hui, on donne tant d'importance à la souffrance animale et qu'on estime que l'on doit se donner des règles éthiques dans nos relations avec les animaux. »
2ème épisode - "L'humain un vivant d'exception"
3ème épisode - "Dans la tête des animaux" « Les émotions entrent pleinement dans les études éthologiques, qui ne se limitent donc plus seulement aux comportements. »
4ème épisode - "Le génie du vivant"
2022/03/30 - Michel Kreutzer, au Musée du Quai Branly - Université populaire 2021/2022, Thème 2 : Le corps - "L'"apprendre animal" : comment le savoir se transmet et s'apprend chez les animaux"
2021/12/07 - Rana Esseily, Carla Aimé, Dalila Bovet et Maya Gratier, à la Philharmonie de Paris - Colloque "Pédagogie du chant choral" - "Résultats de l'étude scientifique - impacts sur les capacités psychosociales, les apprentissages scolaires et le bien-être des enfants" (10h20)
https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/fr/activite/colloque/23002-pedagogie-du-chant-choral
2021/10/26 - Michel Kreutzer, sur France Inter, dans l’émission "Grand bien vous fasse" - "Autour des ‘Folies animales'"
2021/10/13 - Michel Kreutzer interviewé par Caroline Lachowski, sur RFI , dans l'émission "Autour de la question" - "La folie est-elle le propre de l’homme ?"
2021/10/11 - Rana Esseily sur France Culture, dans l'émission "La méthode scientifique" - "Rire : c’est du sérieux!"
2021/03/28 - Michel Kreutzer, interviewé par Octave Larmagnac-Matheron, dans Philosophie magazine - "Zoopsychiatrie : À la découverte des folies animales"
2021/03/25 - Michel Kreutzer, invité de l’association CVA (Connaissance et Vie d’Aujourd’hui) de Lille - Conférence "Éthologie : sommes-nous tous des bêtes ?"
ARCHIVES TELE / RADIO
2017/10/26 : France Infos junior - "Que se passe-t-il dans la tête des bébés ?"
2017/03/26 : France Inter - "Les Savanturiers" - en direct du salon du livre (à partir de 40 min 20) pour la promotion de La science à Contrepied paru aux éditions Belin.
2017/04/12 : France 3 - Le monde de Jamy : "Ces animaux si proches de nous"
2015/01/02 : France 5 - C dans l'air : "Mon chat est-il une personne ?"
2014/07/07 : France culture - Les matins d'été, 2ème partie : Les invités culture/Idées. "Malin comme un corbeau", avec deux éthologues Agatha Lievin-Bazin et Valérie Dufour (à partir de la 98ème minute).
2013/06 : NBC News - "Finches sing like birds and their dad taught them how"
2014/04 : France Culture - "L'intelligence du perroquet"
2013/10 : France Culture - Emission Continent Science : "L’homosexualité animale" (audio 54').
Cité des sciences et de l'industrie - Cycle de conférences Universciences "Corps et esprit : indissociables" : "Accéder à la vie subjective des animaux" - Michel Kreutzer.
2012/12 : The Telegraph "Parrot listens to Scissor Sisters' music".
2012/12 : France 5 - Emission "On n'est pas que des cobayes" : "Les éléphants ont-ils peur des souris".
2011/05 : France Inter - Emission "Vivre avec les bêtes", 29 mai : http://www.franceinter.fr/em/vivre-avec-les-betes/105163 (05/2011)
ARCHIVES PRESSE ECRITE
2019/11/30 : The Economist - Male nightingales spend the winter practising.
2019/11/26 : New Scientist - Nightingales practise new songs in winter to impress mates in spring.
2017/03 : Sciences Psy - Le tempo de notre quotidien - Et si nous prenions le temps ?, pp.30.
2014/12 : Santé magazine, n°469 sur l'empathie.
2014/09/03 : BMC - The unheard message of larksong.
2014/06 : JDD - L'intelligence des corbeaux
2013/11 : JDD - Comment les oiseaux apprennent-ils à chanter ?
2012/03&04 : Cerveau&Psycho - Le perroquet mentaliste.
2011 : Le Pigeon en Ville - La vie sociale du pigeon Bizet.
2011/12 : Le Républicain Lorrain - Les pigeons sont physionomistes.
2011/08 : Futura Sciences - Les canaris font leur show... et s'adaptent à leur public !
2011/08 : Les Echos - Le perroquet, une langue et un cerveau.
2011/05 : BBC News - Parrots choose to work together.
2011/05 : Maxisciences - Intelligence du perroquet gris : collaboration et personnalité.
2011/05 : PhysOrg - Parrots display teamwork and decision-making skills.
2009/04 : Science Actualité, Universciences - Des piafs malins comme des singes.
2005/02 : BBC News - Sleep helps birds sing better.
A good night's sleep helps young birds master the art of singing, but only after a rather groggy start, Nature magazine has reported.
Savoirs Essonne - Masculin/féminin : le genre existe-t-il chez les animaux ? - Ouvrages
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Contribution de Laurent Nagle : "Les lions et les lionnes : des prédateurs aux moeurs parfois surprenantes" et "L'antiquité gréco-romaine : un foyer d'anti-spécistes avant l'heure ?"
Le lion dans le pourtour méditerranéen sous la direction de Margaux Spruyt et Véronique Vassal - journées d'études du 11 & 12 mai 2023 à l'Institut Catholique de Paris. Editions du Cerf, janvier 2025
Le lion dans le pourtour méditerranéen
Michel Keutzer (réédition mars 2025), Ethologie, Collection Que sais-je ?
Ethologie_couverture
Anne Bobin-Bègue & Virginie Soulet (novembre 2024), La place du parent dans l'accompagnement psychologique de l'enfant et de l'adolescent. Dunod, collection Univers Psy.
Dunod Bobin-Bègue
Michel Kreutzer (2021), Folies Animales, Le Pommier, Paris.
Bernard Thierry & Michel Kreutzer (dir, 2021), Témoignages sur la naissance d’une science, Les développements de l’éthologie en France (1956-1990), ouvrage collectif, Presses Universitaires de Paris Nanterre.
Franck Péron (2011), L'intelligence des perroquets: l'hypothèse du cerveau social: Compétition et coopération chez les psittacidés, Editions universitaires européennes.
Mis à jour le 03 juin 2025