From Perception to Action

doi:10.1017/9781009342919.027

Chapter 21 - From Perception to Action

Understanding the Evolution of Survival Decisions in Humans and Other Species

from Section V - Cognition–Emotion Interactions

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 September 2025

Dean Mobbs ,

Ketika Garg and

Sarah M. Tashjian

Edited by

Jorge Armony and

Patrik Vuilleumier

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Jorge Armony: Affiliation:
McGill University, Montréal
Patrik Vuilleumier: Affiliation:
University of Geneva

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Summary

A common feature of all existing organisms is their ability to adapt, survive, and even thrive in the face of danger. Evolution has endowed organisms with a myriad of defensive mechanisms, from bodily phenotypes and sensory apparatus to learning mechanisms. Humans are no different, and a wide variety of defensive mechanisms has allowed us to adapt to changing landscapes and threats. Yet, we are unique in our capacity to predict the future, to learn from others through many streams of communication vicariously, and to experience emotions consciously. In this chapter, we briefly go through the evolutionary history of defensive behaviors and how they are guided by a canonical set of ecological conditions, by the characteristics of the threat, and by the organisms’ repertoire of cognitive and sensory abilities. We explore the converging mechanisms across species and highlight the uniqueness of humans, including the rich internal representations of the dangers that allow us to experience a large array of emotions.

Keywords

Survival fear anxiety defense threat imminence

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Type: Chapter
Information: The Cambridge Handbook of Human Affective Neuroscience , pp. 425 - 443

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009342919.027 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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