WLNE (Providence, Rhode Island) 28 March 08 Snakes on the Brain
Slithering snakes, reptiles that inspire disgust in many people -- and downright terror in others.
Now psychology researchers studying toddlers say that avoiding snakes may be innate.
University of Virginia's Judy Deloache began with the theory that spotting a snake is a survival skill that may have been passed on in peoples' genes.
She and her colleagues first tested for this in adults, but what about young children who've never seen a snake?
Do they have an inborn abilty to spot the reptiles?
Deloache points out that if that ability is inborn, then it isn't going anywhere, but she hopes understanding it may help ease the fears of those, like her, who have snakes on the brain.
Snakes on the Brain

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