Dizzy apes provide clues on human need for mind altering experiences

[Judi Lynn]

MARCH 13, 2023
by University of Birmingham

Great apes deliberately spin themselves in order make themselves dizzy, academics at the University of Warwick and the University of Birmingham have discovered.

The findings could provide clues about the role of altered mental states for origins of the human mind.

Dr. Adriano Lameira, Associate Professor of Psychology at The University of Warwick who co-led the study said, "Every culture has found a way of evading reality through dedicated and special rituals, practices, or ceremonies. This human trait of seeking altered states is so universal, historically, and culturally, that it raises the intriguing possibility that this is something that has been potentially inherited from our evolutionary ancestors."

"If this was indeed the case, it would carry huge consequences on how we think about modern human cognition capacities and emotional needs."

. . .

More:
https://phys.org/news/2023-03-dizzy-apes-clues-human-mind.html

[riversedge]

1. Gee I thought they did it for fun like I did as a kid. Now, I would get nauseated.

[hlthe2b]

2. I get nauseated just thinking about it.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. If I turn around 5 times quick I get dizzy and can't stand up

But sorry researchers, I think the apes are merely testing the limits of their visual-motor skills in climbing trees and vines. It's survival skills.

[Solly Mack]

4. And it's just plain fun.

[lastlib]

5. Hmm, could be clues here to understanding Lauren Boobert....

Sorry, just thinking aloud.........

[BumRushDaShow]

6. When I saw the OP title all I could think of was this

[SWBTATTReg]

7. I would think birds and other critters besides primates eating fermented berries/fruit off the

ground would provide clues too, as for insights into human behavior. But w/ millions having alcohol addiction issues, etc., I don't think we need any more clues as to human needs.

[Warpy]

8. Right, and Nancy Reagan's wagging finger didn't make the rules for anyone but her

and none of us is particularly sure about her.

Using psychoactive substances is older than humanity, older than primates, possibly older than vertebrates. Wiser cultures classify them into social and relaxing substances that are merely celebratory and the stronger stuff, where the line between medical and ceremonial is often blurry.

It's just one more reason the stupid and destructive war on drugs has to end.

[SWBTATTReg]

9. Exactly (end the war on drugs). It is not working. There needs to be something better, that

would address the addiction issues. I had a brother, a sister, and a mother, all who were addicted to alcohol. A terrible curse that the remaining 3 of us (my dad, my other sister and I) had to deal with. So many families/people deal w/ this addiction curse (not limited to alcohol either).

Take care.

[Warpy]

10. People on both sides of my family died from that one

so I'm delighted I can't get near the stuff--all I get is a red face and raging headache, no party, just pain. I've been grateful for that.

I don't have any brothers or sisters, or my story would be the same as yours.

Animal studies have shown a predisposition to alcohol addiction at 15%, and that's across species.

I ran across this today: https://www.sciencealert.com/new-drug-counteracts-intoxication-rapidly-sobers-up-drunk-mice It's a somewhat geeky article but I think this line of research will supply part of the puzzle. Solving the puzzle will help us find better treatments. It will be too late to help my family or maybe yours, but if we don't blow ourselves up first, there might be a future in which that 15% predisposition to alcohol addiction is a thing of the past.

[SWBTATTReg]

11. It would be nice if some sort of treatment was available to handle the addiction issue, but there

are some concerns that if there was a cure all, then some would take the cure, and then go back to drinking again, start all over again. This kind of cure isn't a cure IMHO. It's just another enabler for them to continue their destructive drinking, addictions.