音樂會讓動物更平靜嗎？
Does Music Make Animals Calmer?
難度：進階
來源：BBC News
You can find countless music playlists designed specifically for dogs and cats online, but do they actually help animals relax? Research suggests that classical music, particularly slow-tempo compositions with minimal percussion, can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms in pets.
網上有無數專門為狗和貓設計的音樂播放列表，但它們真的能幫助動物放鬆嗎？研究表明，古典音樂，尤其是節奏緩慢、打擊樂器較少的作品，可以顯著減少寵物的焦慮症狀。
Studies have observed that kennel dogs exposed to piano-based music at around 50 to 60 beats per minute exhibited notably fewer signs of distress, including reduced pacing, trembling, and panting. This particular tempo appears to have a calming effect, likely because it mimics a resting heart rate.
研究觀察到，接觸每分鐘約50到60拍鋼琴音樂的收容所狗表現出明顯較少的焦慮跡象，包括來回踱步、顫抖和喘氣的減少。這種特定的節奏似乎有鎮靜作用，可能是因為它模擬了靜息心率。
The underlying mechanism involves cortisol, the hormone associated with stress response. Slow classical music has been shown to lower cortisol levels in dogs, though researchers acknowledge that the precise neurological pathways remain incompletely understood.
其內在機制涉及皮質醇，這是一種與應激反應相關的激素。緩慢的古典音樂已被證明可以降低狗的皮質醇水平，儘管研究人員承認確切的神經通路尚未完全瞭解。
Cats respond to music as well, though their hearing range differs substantially from dogs. One study monitoring cats under sedation found that classical music resulted in the slowest breathing rate, lowest heart rate, and largest pupil dilation compared to pop or rock music — all physiological indicators of a calming effect.
貓也會對音樂做出反應，儘管它們的聽覺範圍與狗有很大不同。一項監測鎮靜狀態下貓的研究發現，與流行音樂或搖滾樂相比，古典音樂導致了最慢的呼吸頻率、最低的心率和最大的瞳孔擴張——這些都是鎮靜效果的生理指標。
The calming effect extends beyond household pets. Zoo-housed elephants and gorillas demonstrated welfare advantages when exposed to classical music, spending less time engaged in stereotypic behaviour and aggression. However, finding the right music for any individual animal typically requires some trial and error.
這種鎮靜效果不僅限於家養寵物。動物園裡的大象和大猩猩在接觸古典音樂時表現出福利改善，花在刻板行為和攻擊行為上的時間減少了。然而，為任何個體動物找到合適的音樂通常需要一些反覆嘗試。
重點詞彙
- significantly reduce (phr.)：顯著減少
- compositions (n.)：樂曲，作品
- exhibited (v.)：表現出，展示
- underlying mechanism (n.phr.)：內在機制，根本原理
- cortisol (n.)：皮質醇（壓力激素）
- substantially (adv.)：大幅地，相當程度地
- physiological (adj.)：生理的，生理學的
- calming effect (n.phr.)：鎮靜作用，舒緩效果
- respond to (phr.v.)：對...做出反應
- trial and error (n.phr.)：反覆嘗試，試錯法
- welfare (n.)：福利，福祉
- stereotypic behaviour (n.phr.)：刻板行為（動物焦慮的表現）
- countless (adj.)：無數的
- anxiety symptoms (n.phr.)：焦慮症狀
- distress (n.)：痛苦，焦慮
- neurological (adj.)：神經學的
- pathways (n.)：通路，途徑