http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/11/pup-dogs-humans-associate-high-pitched-sounds-lofty-objects

Listen to a high-pitched note like the sound of a whistle and you’re likely to imagine something high off the ground. Dogs, it turns out, may have the same reaction, according to a new study. The findings could point to a deeper origin for why we associate certain sounds with specific physical traits.

Numerous studies have linked high-pitched noises not only with elevation, but also with bright or small objects. These links might arise through experience; smaller animals such as mice and birds typically make higher-pitched sounds, whereas large animals like bears vocalize at a lower pitch. Alternatively, the links could be due to existing features of the English language, such as using the words “high” and “low” to describe both pitch and elevation.