Snake detection theory
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The snake detection hypothesis [1] [2] claims that snake stimuli have contributed to the evolution of primates visual system. According to this theory, predatory pressure from snakes have selected individuals who were better able to recognize snakes, transferring such skill to their offspring. From this point of view, snake were responsible for the modification and expansion of primate visual systems, finally making vision modern primate's most developed sensory interface with the external environment.
Empirical evidences have found evidences for the theory. Both primates and humans are able to quickly detect snakes[3] [4]
Neural activity evidence claiming for an high visual sensitivity to snakes has been proved in primates brain[5]. Non-invasive electroencefalogram (EEG) studies have found an enhanced visual brain activity in response to images of snakes in humans[6] [7] [8] [9] [10].
References
- ^ Isbell, Lynne A. (1 July 2006). "Snakes as agents of evolutionary change in primate brains". Journal of Human Evolution. 51 (1): 1–35. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2005.12.012.
- ^ Isbell, Lynne A. (2009). "The Fruit, the Tree, and the Serpent". Harvard University Press.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Ohman, A.; Flykt, A.; Esteves, F. (2001). "Emotion drives attention: detecting the snake in the grass". Journal of Experimental Psychology. General. 130 (3): 466–478. ISSN 0096-3445.
- ^ Shibasaki, Masahiro; Kawai, Nobuyuki (2009). "Rapid detection of snakes by Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata): an evolutionarily predisposed visual system". Journal of Comparative Psychology (Washington, D.C.: 1983). 123 (2): 131–135. doi:10.1037/a0015095. ISSN 0735-7036.
- ^ Van Le, Quan; Isbell, Lynne A.; Matsumoto, Jumpei; Nguyen, Minh; Hori, Etsuro; Maior, Rafael S.; Tomaz, Carlos; Tran, Anh Hai; Ono, Taketoshi; Nishijo, Hisao (19 November 2013). "Pulvinar neurons reveal neurobiological evidence of past selection for rapid detection of snakes". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 110 (47): 19000–19005. doi:10.1073/pnas.1312648110. ISSN 1091-6490.
- ^ Van Strien, J. W.; Eijlers, R.; Franken, I. H. A.; Huijding, J. (2014). "Snake pictures draw more early attention than spider pictures in non-phobic women: evidence from event-related brain potentials". Biological Psychology. 96: 150–157. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.12.014. ISSN 1873-6246.
- ^ Van Strien, Jan W.; Franken, Ingmar H. A.; Huijding, Jorg (2014). "Testing the snake-detection hypothesis: larger early posterior negativity in humans to pictures of snakes than to pictures of other reptiles, spiders and slugs". Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 8: 691. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.00691. ISSN 1662-5161.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Van Strien, Jan W.; Christiaans, Gerwin; Franken, Ingmar H. A.; Huijding, Jorg (2016). "Curvilinear shapes and the snake detection hypothesis: An ERP study". Psychophysiology. 53 (2): 252–257. doi:10.1111/psyp.12564. ISSN 1540-5958.
- ^ He, Hongshen; Kubo, Kenta; Kawai, Nobuyuki (10 September 2014). "Spiders do not evoke greater early posterior negativity in the event-related potential as snakes". Neuroreport. 25 (13): 1049–1053. doi:10.1097/WNR.0000000000000227. ISSN 1473-558X.
- ^ Grassini, Simone; Holm, Suvi K.; Railo, Henry; Koivisto, Mika (2016). "Who is afraid of the invisible snake? Subjective visual awareness modulates posterior brain activity for evolutionarily threatening stimuli". Biological Psychology. 121 (Pt A): 53–61. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.10.007. ISSN 1873-6246.