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Venomous snakes elicit stronger fear than nonvenomous ones: Psychophysiological response to snake images

Author

Listed:
  • Eva Landová
  • Šárka Peléšková
  • Kristýna Sedláčková
  • Markéta Janovcová
  • Jakub Polák
  • Silvie Rádlová
  • Barbora Vobrubová
  • Daniel Frynta

Abstract

Snakes have been important ambush predators of both primates and human hunter-gatherers throughout their co-evolutionary history. Viperid snakes in particular are responsible for most fatal venomous snakebites worldwide and thus represent a strong selective pressure. They elicit intense fear in humans and are easily recognizable thanks to their distinctive morphotype. In this study, we measured skin resistance (SR) and heart rate (HR) in human subjects exposed to snake pictures eliciting either high fear (10 venomous viperid species) or disgust (10 nonvenomous fossorial species). Venomous snakes subjectively evaluated as frightening trigger a stronger physiological response (higher SR amplitude) than repulsive non-venomous snakes. However, stimuli presented in a block (more intense stimulation) do not trigger a stronger emotional response compared to sequentially presented stimuli (less intense stimulation). There are significant interindividual differences as subjects with high fear of snakes confronted with images of viperid snakes show stronger, longer-lasting, and more frequent changes in SR and higher HR compared to low-fear subjects. Thus, we show that humans demonstrate a remarkable ability to discriminate between dangerous viperids and harmless fossorial snakes, which is also reflected in distinct autonomous body responses.

Suggested Citation

  • Eva Landová & Šárka Peléšková & Kristýna Sedláčková & Markéta Janovcová & Jakub Polák & Silvie Rádlová & Barbora Vobrubová & Daniel Frynta, 2020. "Venomous snakes elicit stronger fear than nonvenomous ones: Psychophysiological response to snake images," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-31, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0236999
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236999
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    1. Bryan G. Fry & Nicolas Vidal & Janette A. Norman & Freek J. Vonk & Holger Scheib & S. F. Ryan Ramjan & Sanjaya Kuruppu & Kim Fung & S. Blair Hedges & Michael K. Richardson & Wayne. C. Hodgson & Vera I, 2006. "Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes," Nature, Nature, vol. 439(7076), pages 584-588, February.
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