Evolved navigation theory and the descent illusion

Jackson, Russell E.; Cormack, Lawrence K.

doi:10.3758/bf03193756

Cited by 104 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…This distance matching method of adjustment is probably the most widely used method of realistic outdoor distance estimation (Chapanis & Mankin 1967;Higashiyama 1996;Yang et al 1999;Jackson & Cormack 2007). Participants stood next to the vertical surface and directed a research assistant to walk away until the distance from the research assistant to the vertical surface looked equal to the height of the vertical surface (figure 1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The descent illusion ( Jackson & Cormack 2007) is the phenomenon wherein observers overestimate heights more from above than below. The descent illusion is thought to reflect the greater likelihood and severity of falling while descending than while ascending.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…ENT provides a framework for predicting individual differences in distance perception across environments. Specific to acrophobia, falling probably posed a prominent cost of navigation over human evolution ( Jackson & Cormack 2007). Differential perception of falling risks should thus correspond with distance estimation individual differences for surfaces with falling costs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Evolved navigation theory ( Jackson 2005;Jackson & Cormack 2007), or ENT, is a research approach that focuses on how navigational costs over evolutionary time may have shaped perception and navigation. A basic logic used by ENT is that fitness costs over time can shape biological systems to decrease those costs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Individual differences in distance perception

Jackson

2009

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Distance perception is among the most pervasive mental phenomena and the oldest research topics in behavioural science. However, we do not understand well the most pervasive finding of distance perception research, that of large individual differences. There are large individual differences in acrophobia (fear of heights), which we commonly assume consists of an abnormal fear of stimuli perceived normally. Evolved navigation theory (ENT) instead suggests that acrophobia consists of a more normal fear of stimuli perceived abnormally. ENT suggests that distance perception individual differences produce major components of acrophobia. Acrophobia tested over a broad range in the present study predicted large individual differences in distance estimation of surfaces that could produce falls. This fear of heights correlated positively with distance estimates of a vertical surface-even among non-acrophobic individuals at no risk of falling and without knowledge of being tested for acrophobia. Acrophobia score predicted magnitude of the descent illusion, which is thought to reflect the risk of falling. These data hold important implications in environmental navigation, clinical aetiology and the evolution of visual systems.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Individual differences in distance perception

Jackson

2009

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…Human studies suggest that vertical distances are overestimated when looking down from the top [38,[70][71][72], and this overestimation of distance is associated with fear of heights [71,73]. The falling cost from downward slope would appear much higher than from upward slopes [38][39]43].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Slope climbing challenges, fear of heights, anxiety and time of the day

Ennaceur

Hussain

Abuhamdah

et al. 2017

Behavioural Brain Research

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Use policyThe full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-pro t purposes provided that:• a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.Please consult the full DRO policy for further details. Summary: When exposed to an unfamiliar open space, animals experience fear and attempt to find an escape route. Anxiety emerges when animals are confronted with a challenging obstacle to this fear motivated escape. High anxiety animals do not take risks; they avoid the challenge. The present experiments investigated this risk avoidant behavior in mice. In experiment 1, BALB/c, C57BL/6J and CD-1 mice were exposed to a large platform with downward inclined steep slopes attached on two opposite sides. The platform was elevated 75 and 100 cm from the ground, in a standard (SPDS) and in a raised (RPDS) configuration, respectively. In experiment 2, the platform was elevated 75 cm from the ground. Mice had to climb onto a stand at the top of upward inclined slopes (SPUS). In experiment 3, BALB/c mice were exposed to SPDS with steep or shallow slopes either in early morning or in late afternoon. In all 3 test configurations, mice spent more time in the areas adjacent to the slopes than in the areas adjacent to void, however only C57BL/6J and CD-1 crossed onto the slopes in SPDS, and crossed onto the stands in SPUS whereas BALB/c remained on the platform in SPDS and explored the slopes in SPUS. Elevation of the platform from the ground reduced the crossings onto the slopes in C57BL/6J and CD-1, and no differences were observed between BALB/c and C57BL/6J. BALB/c mice demonstrated no difference in anxiety when tested early morning or late afternoon; they crossed onto shallow slopes and avoided the steep one.

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Evolutionary Psychology

Jackson¹

2010

The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology

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Human psychology is a product of the human nervous system. Neural mechanisms, often clustered in the brain, gather and process information from the environment, interact, and execute actions. All conscious and unconscious mental phenomena, such as motivations, emotions, or planning, derive from neural activity. Even the most mundane behaviors require precise unconscious calculations. Walking, for instance, requires extensive feedback, calculation, and integration in order to coordinate intricate muscle movement.

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Evolved navigation theory and the descent illusion

Cited by 104 publications

References 25 publications

Individual differences in distance perception

Individual differences in distance perception

Slope climbing challenges, fear of heights, anxiety and time of the day

Evolutionary Psychology

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