Pupillometry reveals the physiological underpinnings of the aversion to holes

PeerJ
Vladislav AyzenbergStella F Lourenco

Abstract

An unusual, but common, aversion to images with clusters of holes is known as trypophobia. Recent research suggests that trypophobic reactions are caused by visual spectral properties also present in aversive images of evolutionary threatening animals (e.g., snakes and spiders). However, despite similar spectral properties, it remains unknown whether there is a shared emotional response to holes and threatening animals. Whereas snakes and spiders are known to elicit a fear reaction, associated with the sympathetic nervous system, anecdotal reports from self-described trypophobes suggest reactions more consistent with disgust, which is associated with activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. Here we used pupillometry in a novel attempt to uncover the distinct emotional response associated with a trypophobic response to holes. Across two experiments, images of holes elicited greater constriction compared to images of threatening animals and neutral images. Moreover, this effect held when controlling for level of arousal and accounting for the pupil grating response. This pattern of pupillary response is consistent with involvement of the parasympathetic nervous system and suggests a disgust, not a fear, response to image...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1993·Behaviour Research and Therapy·G C DaveyG Mayhew
Dec 24, 1997·Behaviour Research and Therapy·D F TolinT C Lee
Aug 14, 1998·Behaviour Research and Therapy·S J Thorpe, P M Salkovskis
Nov 5, 1998·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·M L PhillipsJ A Gray
May 2, 2001·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·A J CalderA W Young
Sep 20, 2001·Journal of Experimental Psychology. General·A OhmanF Esteves
Oct 12, 2001·Autonomic Neuroscience : Basic & Clinical·B Folkow
Sep 25, 2002·Biological Psychology·Michela SarloLuciano Stegagno
Dec 16, 2003·Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience·Fionnuala C MurphyAndrew D Lawrence
Mar 9, 2004·International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·Eric Granholm, Stuart R Steinhauer
Feb 20, 2007·Biological Psychology·Andrea HermannAnne Schienle
May 8, 2007·Behaviour Research and Therapy·Brett Deacon, Bunmi O Olatunji
Jun 30, 2007·Physiology & Behavior·Arne OhmanMartin Ingvar
Sep 12, 2007·Psychological Assessment·Bunmi O OlatunjiLisa S Elwood
Feb 20, 2008·Psychophysiology·Margaret M BradleyPeter J Lang
Sep 4, 2008·Biological Psychology·W J M van OverveldMadelon L Peters
Sep 9, 2008·Perception·Dominic Fernandez, Arnold J Wilkins
Oct 8, 2009·Cognition & Emotion·Iris B Mauss, Michael D Robinson
Apr 8, 2010·Biological Psychology·Sylvia D Kreibig
Sep 2, 2010·Behavior Research Methods·Verena WillenbockelJames W Tanaka
Jun 21, 2011·Vision Research·Louise O'Hare, Paul B Hibbard
Jan 20, 2012·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Hanah A Chapman, Adam K Anderson
Oct 13, 2012·Current Biology : CB·Eleonora VagnoniMatthew R Longo
Dec 13, 2012·Psychological Bulletin·Peter KuppensLisa Feldman Barrett
Aug 29, 2013·Psychological Science·Geoff G Cole, Arnold J Wilkins
Sep 10, 2014·Psychophysiology·Sarah Miller, Paul W Davenport
Jan 13, 2015·Vision Research·Olivier Penacchio, Arnold J Wilkins
Jan 31, 2015·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·An T D LeArnold J Wilkins
Aug 27, 2015·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science·Sylvain Sirois, Julie Brisson
Dec 23, 2015·Data in Brief·Wilma A Bainbridge, Aude Oliva
Jun 1, 2017·Psychological Reports·Wang CanJin Zheng
Jul 7, 2017·Cognition & Emotion·Tom R Kupfer, An T D Le
Oct 19, 2017·Advances in Cognitive Psychology·Kyoshiro SasakiKayo Miura

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 16, 2018·BMC Research Notes·Shu Imaizumi, Yoshihiko Tanno
May 24, 2019·PeerJ·Costanza PeinkhoferDaniel Kondziella
May 16, 2021·Scientific Reports·Risako Shirai, Hirokazu Ogawa
Sep 15, 2021·PloS One·Eric MayorRoselind Lieb

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Adobe Photoshop
Visual Basic
SHINE
Matlab

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved