Ancestral Spin

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New research has found evidence that great apes spin themselves around on ropes or vines to get dizzy for fun, Science Alert reported.

In a new study, a research team analyzed 40 online videos of great apes – gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans – spinning on ropes or vines.

They counted 132 bouts of “rope spinning” in the videos, with a total of 709 revolutions noted. Their findings showed the animals seemed to be voluntarily seeking out and engaging in experiences that altered their self-perception and location in space.

Researchers explained that these behaviors were similar to those that toddlers or Sufi dancers engage in, noting that these patterns are “beyond coincidental.”

Hanging upside down or spinning around in circles can give humans a psychological high and can teach us important lessons about how our bodies and minds operate.

The findings suggest that our primate relatives may have a similar proclivity for losing control over their bodies and minds as humans. The researchers speculate that early humans used “whirling” to deliberately alter their state of mind before learning how to make alcohol or use psychedelic mushrooms.

However, the primates they observed engaging in this behavior were mostly captive individuals, which may be bored and trying to stimulate their senses in some way.

Further research could help confirm whether great apes show a proclivity for spinning as a deliberate means of shaking up their perception of the world, just for fun.