Pupillometry reveals the physiological underpinnings of the aversion to holes
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 sim...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2018-01-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/4185.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797425564207808512 |
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| author | Vladislav Ayzenberg Meghan R. Hickey Stella F. Lourenco |
| author_facet | Vladislav Ayzenberg Meghan R. Hickey Stella F. Lourenco |
| author_sort | Vladislav Ayzenberg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 images of holes. Although general aversion may be rooted in shared visual-spectral properties, we propose that the specific emotion is determined by cognitive appraisal of the distinct image content. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:17:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b1ee9d4633084048850f3859a77eb396 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:17:55Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-b1ee9d4633084048850f3859a77eb3962023-12-02T22:00:53ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592018-01-016e418510.7717/peerj.4185Pupillometry reveals the physiological underpinnings of the aversion to holesVladislav Ayzenberg0Meghan R. Hickey1Stella F. Lourenco2Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of AmericaDepartment of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of AmericaDepartment of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of AmericaAn 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 images of holes. Although general aversion may be rooted in shared visual-spectral properties, we propose that the specific emotion is determined by cognitive appraisal of the distinct image content.https://peerj.com/articles/4185.pdfHolesVisionFearPupillometryTrypophobiaPsychophysiology |
| spellingShingle | Vladislav Ayzenberg Meghan R. Hickey Stella F. Lourenco Pupillometry reveals the physiological underpinnings of the aversion to holes PeerJ Holes Vision Fear Pupillometry Trypophobia Psychophysiology |
| title | Pupillometry reveals the physiological underpinnings of the aversion to holes |
| title_full | Pupillometry reveals the physiological underpinnings of the aversion to holes |
| title_fullStr | Pupillometry reveals the physiological underpinnings of the aversion to holes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pupillometry reveals the physiological underpinnings of the aversion to holes |
| title_short | Pupillometry reveals the physiological underpinnings of the aversion to holes |
| title_sort | pupillometry reveals the physiological underpinnings of the aversion to holes |
| topic | Holes Vision Fear Pupillometry Trypophobia Psychophysiology |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/4185.pdf |
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