2012 |
Öhman, A; Soares, S C; Juth, P; Lindström, B; Esteves, F Evolutionary derived modulations of attention to two common fear stimuli: Serpents and hostile humans Journal Article Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 24 (1), pp. 17–32, 2012, ISSN: 2044-5911. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Attention, Emotional stimuli, Evolution, Faces, Snake Detection Theory, Snakes @article{Ohman2012, title = {Evolutionary derived modulations of attention to two common fear stimuli: Serpents and hostile humans}, author = {A \"{O}hman and S C Soares and P Juth and B Lindstr\"{o}m and F Esteves}, doi = {10.1080/20445911.2011.629603}, issn = {2044-5911}, year = {2012}, date = {2012-02-01}, journal = {Journal of Cognitive Psychology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {17--32}, abstract = {In this paper we present an evolutionary analysis of attention to stimuli that are threatening from an evolutionary perspective, such as angry faces and snakes. We review data showing that angry, photographically depicted angry faces are more rapidly detected than happy faces in a visual search setting provided that they are male and that distractors are redundant in the sense that they are drawn from a small set of faces. Following Isbell's (2009) novel Snake Detection Theory, we predicted that snakes, as the prototypical predators, should be more rapidly detected than spiders, given that spiders have provided less of a predatory threat for primates. We review a series of experiments from our laboratory showing that snakes indeed are more rapidly detected than spiders provided that the target stimuli are presented in a demanding visual context, such as many distractor stimuli, or in peripheral vision. Furthermore, they are more distracting than spiders on the performance of a primary attention task. Because snakes were not affected by perceptual load, whereas spiders followed the usual rule of better detection with low perceptual load, we concluded that attending to snakes might constitute an evolutionary adaptation.}, keywords = {Attention, Emotional stimuli, Evolution, Faces, Snake Detection Theory, Snakes}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } In this paper we present an evolutionary analysis of attention to stimuli that are threatening from an evolutionary perspective, such as angry faces and snakes. We review data showing that angry, photographically depicted angry faces are more rapidly detected than happy faces in a visual search setting provided that they are male and that distractors are redundant in the sense that they are drawn from a small set of faces. Following Isbell's (2009) novel Snake Detection Theory, we predicted that snakes, as the prototypical predators, should be more rapidly detected than spiders, given that spiders have provided less of a predatory threat for primates. We review a series of experiments from our laboratory showing that snakes indeed are more rapidly detected than spiders provided that the target stimuli are presented in a demanding visual context, such as many distractor stimuli, or in peripheral vision. Furthermore, they are more distracting than spiders on the performance of a primary attention task. Because snakes were not affected by perceptual load, whereas spiders followed the usual rule of better detection with low perceptual load, we concluded that attending to snakes might constitute an evolutionary adaptation. |
2007 |
Flykt, A; Esteves, F; Öhman, A Skin conductance responses to masked conditioned stimuli: Phylogenetic/ontogenetic factors versus direction of threat? Journal Article Biological Psychology, 74 (3), pp. 328–336, 2007, ISSN: 03010511. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Conditioning, Direction, Guns, Masking, Snakes, Threat @article{Flykt2007, title = {Skin conductance responses to masked conditioned stimuli: Phylogenetic/ontogenetic factors versus direction of threat?}, author = {A Flykt and F Esteves and A \"{O}hman}, doi = {10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.08.004}, issn = {03010511}, year = {2007}, date = {2007-03-01}, journal = {Biological Psychology}, volume = {74}, number = {3}, pages = {328--336}, abstract = {Evolutionarily old threat stimuli are likely to require less conscious information processing than threat stimuli of a more recent date. To test this proposal two differential conditioning experiments, with biological threat stimuli (e.g. snakes) in half the groups and cultural threat stimuli (e.g. guns) in the other half, were conducted. The conditioned (CS+) and the control (CS−) stimuli were backward masked during the extinction phase to prevent conscious recognition. The differential skin conductance responding for both biological and cultural threat stimuli survived the masking procedure when the conditioned stimuli were directed towards the participants (Experiment 1), but for neither type of CS when stimuli were not directed towards the participants (Experiment 2). These findings are discussed in relation to the previous finding by \"{O}hman and co-workers and in relation to imminence of threat.}, keywords = {Conditioning, Direction, Guns, Masking, Snakes, Threat}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Evolutionarily old threat stimuli are likely to require less conscious information processing than threat stimuli of a more recent date. To test this proposal two differential conditioning experiments, with biological threat stimuli (e.g. snakes) in half the groups and cultural threat stimuli (e.g. guns) in the other half, were conducted. The conditioned (CS+) and the control (CS−) stimuli were backward masked during the extinction phase to prevent conscious recognition. The differential skin conductance responding for both biological and cultural threat stimuli survived the masking procedure when the conditioned stimuli were directed towards the participants (Experiment 1), but for neither type of CS when stimuli were not directed towards the participants (Experiment 2). These findings are discussed in relation to the previous finding by Öhman and co-workers and in relation to imminence of threat. |
Under Review
2012 |
Öhman, A; Soares, S C; Juth, P; Lindström, B; Esteves, F Evolutionary derived modulations of attention to two common fear stimuli: Serpents and hostile humans Journal Article Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 24 (1), pp. 17–32, 2012, ISSN: 2044-5911. @article{Ohman2012, title = {Evolutionary derived modulations of attention to two common fear stimuli: Serpents and hostile humans}, author = {A \"{O}hman and S C Soares and P Juth and B Lindstr\"{o}m and F Esteves}, doi = {10.1080/20445911.2011.629603}, issn = {2044-5911}, year = {2012}, date = {2012-02-01}, journal = {Journal of Cognitive Psychology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {17--32}, abstract = {In this paper we present an evolutionary analysis of attention to stimuli that are threatening from an evolutionary perspective, such as angry faces and snakes. We review data showing that angry, photographically depicted angry faces are more rapidly detected than happy faces in a visual search setting provided that they are male and that distractors are redundant in the sense that they are drawn from a small set of faces. Following Isbell's (2009) novel Snake Detection Theory, we predicted that snakes, as the prototypical predators, should be more rapidly detected than spiders, given that spiders have provided less of a predatory threat for primates. We review a series of experiments from our laboratory showing that snakes indeed are more rapidly detected than spiders provided that the target stimuli are presented in a demanding visual context, such as many distractor stimuli, or in peripheral vision. Furthermore, they are more distracting than spiders on the performance of a primary attention task. Because snakes were not affected by perceptual load, whereas spiders followed the usual rule of better detection with low perceptual load, we concluded that attending to snakes might constitute an evolutionary adaptation.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } In this paper we present an evolutionary analysis of attention to stimuli that are threatening from an evolutionary perspective, such as angry faces and snakes. We review data showing that angry, photographically depicted angry faces are more rapidly detected than happy faces in a visual search setting provided that they are male and that distractors are redundant in the sense that they are drawn from a small set of faces. Following Isbell's (2009) novel Snake Detection Theory, we predicted that snakes, as the prototypical predators, should be more rapidly detected than spiders, given that spiders have provided less of a predatory threat for primates. We review a series of experiments from our laboratory showing that snakes indeed are more rapidly detected than spiders provided that the target stimuli are presented in a demanding visual context, such as many distractor stimuli, or in peripheral vision. Furthermore, they are more distracting than spiders on the performance of a primary attention task. Because snakes were not affected by perceptual load, whereas spiders followed the usual rule of better detection with low perceptual load, we concluded that attending to snakes might constitute an evolutionary adaptation. |
2007 |
Flykt, A; Esteves, F; Öhman, A Skin conductance responses to masked conditioned stimuli: Phylogenetic/ontogenetic factors versus direction of threat? Journal Article Biological Psychology, 74 (3), pp. 328–336, 2007, ISSN: 03010511. @article{Flykt2007, title = {Skin conductance responses to masked conditioned stimuli: Phylogenetic/ontogenetic factors versus direction of threat?}, author = {A Flykt and F Esteves and A \"{O}hman}, doi = {10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.08.004}, issn = {03010511}, year = {2007}, date = {2007-03-01}, journal = {Biological Psychology}, volume = {74}, number = {3}, pages = {328--336}, abstract = {Evolutionarily old threat stimuli are likely to require less conscious information processing than threat stimuli of a more recent date. To test this proposal two differential conditioning experiments, with biological threat stimuli (e.g. snakes) in half the groups and cultural threat stimuli (e.g. guns) in the other half, were conducted. The conditioned (CS+) and the control (CS−) stimuli were backward masked during the extinction phase to prevent conscious recognition. The differential skin conductance responding for both biological and cultural threat stimuli survived the masking procedure when the conditioned stimuli were directed towards the participants (Experiment 1), but for neither type of CS when stimuli were not directed towards the participants (Experiment 2). These findings are discussed in relation to the previous finding by \"{O}hman and co-workers and in relation to imminence of threat.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Evolutionarily old threat stimuli are likely to require less conscious information processing than threat stimuli of a more recent date. To test this proposal two differential conditioning experiments, with biological threat stimuli (e.g. snakes) in half the groups and cultural threat stimuli (e.g. guns) in the other half, were conducted. The conditioned (CS+) and the control (CS−) stimuli were backward masked during the extinction phase to prevent conscious recognition. The differential skin conductance responding for both biological and cultural threat stimuli survived the masking procedure when the conditioned stimuli were directed towards the participants (Experiment 1), but for neither type of CS when stimuli were not directed towards the participants (Experiment 2). These findings are discussed in relation to the previous finding by Öhman and co-workers and in relation to imminence of threat. |