画像の出所：https://missionlocal.org/2024/04/whiskers/
According to a recent study, whiskers may play a crucial role in helping cats navigate their surroundings. The study conducted by researchers at MIT found that a cat’s whiskers are not just sensory organs, but also help them gauge the size of openings before attempting to pass through them.
The researchers used high-speed cameras to observe how cats moved through narrow spaces and found that the whiskers would move forward and then backward to measure the width of the opening. This information would then be sent back to the cat’s brain to help them determine whether they could fit through the space without getting stuck.
Whiskers are known to be highly sensitive and can detect even the slightest changes in their surroundings. They are packed with nerves that send signals to the brain, allowing cats to navigate their environment with precision.
The findings of this study shed light on the importance of whiskers for cats and how they rely on them to move through their surroundings safely. This research could have implications for future studies on animal behavior and sensory perception.