Can Spiders Recognize Faces?
WouterSome scientists have suggested that spiders do not recognize human faces. This is based on the fact that they have no noses and do not have good eyesight. Moreover, they do not have emotions and do not display the same behavior when they are attached to people.
However, a recent study at the University of Cincinnati in the United States suggests that jumping spiders might be able to detect a human face. In addition, they are able to perceive other objects in their environment.
Researchers used an ocular model to examine how spiders respond to various objects. These objects ranged from a flat spheroid to a simulated predator. They were presented in a series of trials, with each being recorded at 1920 x 1080 pixels and 60 frames per second. The videos were scored manually, with the help of software called BORIS.
The main score was the time it took the spider to orient towards the object. The second score was the freezing of the object. This was a proxy for the perception of the object.
The main reason spiders can recognize objects in their environment is because of their sense of vibrations. This is a similar mechanism to the one humans use to detect sound and light. These vibrations alert spiders of potential prey.
They can also sense pheromones. This helps them identify family members and plan for future breeding. Moreover, they can tell the difference between smells and scents by using chemical receptors on their legs.
