confidence.
The robot-dog, called AIBO, was developed by Sony and produced between 1999 and 2006. It was the first robot to make its way into thousands of American homes. AIBO was programmed to “learn” in a limited way from its environment. At the University of Washington, a study of adults who visited an AIBO website suggested that many owners believe AIBO experienced emotion(情感) even though they know the dog is a robot. Another study at Purdue suggested that kids react the same way: Even very young children know that AIBO is not a real dog, yet some form an emotional attachment to it.
In a separate study using AIBO and a dog, Dr Rebecca Johnson, a nursing professor and associate director at the Center for Animal Wellness, Missouri University Collage, found some interesting results. The study centered on the subjects’levels of serotonin(血清素)—a brain chemical that, when deficient(不足的), is strongly linked with depression. Findings showed that serotonin increased when test subjects stayed with their pet dogs but decreased when the subjects stayed with robotic dogs.
The benefits of owning a dog, then, are becoming clear. Increased levels of serotonin calm us down and improve sleep and can make us less sensitive to pain. Johnson’s study also found that petting a dog will result in decreased levels of the brain chemical cortisol.
So, just as exercise is important to our health, so too are our pets: They can improve the quality of our lives. Studies have shown, for example, that taking a dog for regular walks can contribute to a person’s weight loss.It can also be helpful for us in social activities, which can help improve our sense of well-being. When we look into our pets’ eyes, we are seeing one of of the true joys of life. 24．How do most people from the AIBO website feel about AIBO？
A．Frightened. B．Worried.
C．Satisfied. D．Doubtful．
25．Compared with a real dog, AIBO______.
A．is more related to stress．
B．is less attractive to adults．