(I'm sure I read it in the dead-tree version on the New Scientist but can't find it now).
What's interesting is that the children simply paid more attention to spider/snake-like shapes rather than actually fear them. This seems to have been the case with both of my children who have been fascinated by spiders from an early age and will spot them from across the room. I encourage the curiosity and discourage the fear (we're in Ireland after all).
For some reason, I think it's more plausible that we have a genetic predisposition to pay attention to spiders/snakes rather than the emotional fear response. Perhaps that distinction isn't present in crickets?
Re:Fear of Spiders Can Develop Before Birth
by bpd1069 on Tuesday January 18, 2011 @07:53AM
(#2115584)
This is awesome stuff, esp. in regards to epigenetics.
wiki: "In biology, and specifically genetics, epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in phenotype (appearance) or gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence, hence the name epi- (Greek: επί- over, above) -genetics. These changes may remain through cell divisions for the remainder of the cell's life and may also last for multiple generations. However, there is no change in the underlying DNA sequence of the organism;[1] instead, non-genetic factors cause the organism's genes to behave (or "express themselves") differently.[2]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics
A further round of study would be exposure to a spider of female crickets and male crickets before pregnancy, and another would be to see if there are any lasting changes passed in successive generations.
Re:Fear of Spiders Can Develop Before Birth
by streety on Tuesday January 18, 2011 @08:16AM
(#2115646)
I'm not sure what the cricket equivalent would be but in a mouse model open space and bright space anxiety tests would be a reasonable approach to understanding whether the anxiety is general or specific to spiders.
(I'm sure I read it in the dead-tree version on the New Scientist but can't find it now).
What's interesting is that the children simply paid more attention to spider/snake-like shapes rather than actually fear them. This seems to have been the case with both of my children who have been fascinated by spiders from an early age and will spot them from across the room. I encourage the curiosity and discourage the fear (we're in Ireland after all).
For some reason, I think it's more plausible that we have a genetic predisposition to pay attention to spiders/snakes rather than the emotional fear response. Perhaps that distinction isn't present in crickets?
wiki: "In biology, and specifically genetics, epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in phenotype (appearance) or gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence, hence the name epi- (Greek: επί- over, above) -genetics. These changes may remain through cell divisions for the remainder of the cell's life and may also last for multiple generations. However, there is no change in the underlying DNA sequence of the organism;[1] instead, non-genetic factors cause the organism's genes to behave (or "express themselves") differently.[2]" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics
A further round of study would be exposure to a spider of female crickets and male crickets before pregnancy, and another would be to see if there are any lasting changes passed in successive generations.
b). Any control group on the babies to see if it's actually fear of spiders they learnt, or just fear?