Gorillas deliberately spin around to make themselves dizzy and induce an “altered mental state”.
WHY do kids love carousels so much? A bizarre study shows how gorillas deliberately spin around to make themselves dizzy and induce an “altered mental state”.
- Gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans regularly spin in circles.
- Experts believe it is possible to achieve an “altered mental state”.
- And this could mean that our ancestors did the same for similar reasons.
There is nothing more exciting for a child than riding a fast moving carousel.
And they’re not the only ones who enjoy feeling dizzy—great apes crave the same sensation, new research shows.
Scientists have found that primates rotate in circles regularly, possibly to achieve an “altered mental state.”
And this could mean that our ancestors did the same for similar reasons.
A team from the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick analyzed 40 online videos of gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans showing rotational behavior.
Scientists have found that primates rotate in circles regularly, possibly to achieve an “altered mental state.”
On average, primates made 5.5 revolutions of rotation at an average speed of 1.5 revolutions per second and repeated this three times.
The scientists compared the speed of rotation and found that primates can rotate while holding on to a rope as quickly as professional dancers and circus performers, as well as Muslim dervishes who take part in whirling ceremonies to achieve a spiritual trance.
Dr. Adriano Lameira, one of the leaders of the study, said: “The rotation changes our state of consciousness, disrupts the reaction and coordination of the body and mind, which makes us feel sick, dizzy and even elated, as is the case with playing children.” on carousels, spinning wheels and roundabouts.
“With this study, we wanted to try to understand whether rotation could be studied as a primordial behavior that human ancestors could use autonomously and connect to other states of consciousness.
“If all great apes strive for dizziness, then our ancestors most likely did it too.
“The monkeys did this purposefully, almost as if they were dancing, a well-known mechanism in humans that facilitates mood regulation, social connections and sharpens the senses everywhere, and is based on rotational movements.
“The parallel between what monkeys do and what humans do is not accidental.”
The researchers themselves experimented with spinning at these speeds at this time, and found it difficult to achieve a third bout of spin, as the great apes did.
There is nothing more exciting for a child than riding a fast moving carousel (file photo)
On average, primates made 5.5 revolutions of rotation at an average speed of 1.5 revolutions per second and repeated this three times.
At this point in the video, the primates were visibly dizzy and likely lost their balance and fell.
“This indicates that the primates deliberately keep spinning, despite beginning to feel the effects of dizziness, until they can no longer balance,” said Dr. Markus Perlman, who also worked on the study.
The researchers said the behavior may be related to mental health, as the primates may be bored, or it may be related to play.
“If you think of a playground for kids, just about every piece of equipment—swings, slides, seesaws, merry-go-rounds, or merry-go-rounds—are all designed to challenge your balance or upset your body and mind responses,” added Dr. Lameria.
The study was published in the journal Primates.