Browsing by Author "Ozturk, Suleyman"

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Citation - Scopus: 2
Behavioral Immune System and Trypophobia
(Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi, 2022) Ozturk, Suleyman; Ceylan, Deniz; Demir, Ayse Banu; Kazdagli, Hasan; Erdeniz, Burak
Pathogens, which are the source of infectious diseases, have imposed a strong selection pressure on human evo-lution as one of the most important causes of human death during the natural selection process. As a result of this, it is assumed that a variety of adaptations have evolved against infection threats and one of these adap-tations is the physiological immune system. However, activation of the physiological immune system can be quite costly for organisms in some cases, and therefore it has been recently proposed in evolutionary psychology that an adaptive system called behavioral immune sys-tem may have evolved in association with the proactive functional processes against pathogen threats. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that a number of psy-chopathologies might develop as a result of maladaptive processes affecting the functionality of this system, and one of these psychopathologies might be trypophobia. Trypophobia refers to a psychological disorder in which individuals experience aversion and disgust at excessive levels toward clusters of small objects such as holes and bumps. Following this, the current review was estab-lished within the framework of three distinct goals. Firstly, this review aimed to discuss the evolutionary basis and mechanisms of the behavioral immune system. Secondly, the review aimed to discuss the characteristic features and the etiological explanations of trypophobia. Finally, the review aimed to discuss how potential changes in the behavioral immune system might lead to the development of trypophobia.
Differential Physiological and Inflammatory Responses To Trypophobic Stimuli
(Wiley, 2025) Baris, Elif; Kazdagli, Hasan; Kipcak, Arda; Ozturk, Suleyman; Ceylan, Deniz; Demir, Ayse Banu; Erdeniz, Burak
Citation - WoS: 1
Exam Anxiety Evaluation by Heart Rate Variability in University Students
(Wiley, 2023) Kazdagli, Hasan; Ozel, Hasan Fehmi; Ozturk, Suleyman; Ozalp, Deniz Ceylan Tufan; Erdeniz, Burak; Ozbek, Mustafa; Şemin, Makbule İlgi
[Abstract Not Available]
Physiological and Inflammatory Changes to Natural and Skin-Related Trypophobic Images
(Akademiai Kiado Zrt, 2025) Kazdagli, Hasan; Baris, Elif; Kipcak, Arda; Ozturk, Suleyman; Ceylan, Deniz; Demir, Ayse Banu; Erdeniz, Burak
Introduction: The immune system's inflammatory response, driven by pro-inflammatory proteins, protects against external threats. Fear and disgust-inducing stimuli have been linked to immune responses, yet their specific physiological and inflammatory mechanisms in trypophobia remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the inflammatory and physiological responses in relation to natural (non-skin) and skin-related trypophobic images. Material and methods: Fifty participants (n = 50) were recruited for the study, and their sensitivity to trypophobia was measured using the trypophobia questionnaire. Then, participants were randomly assigned to either the skin related or non-skin related visual exposure group and viewed trypophobic images from a computer screen. Blood samples were collected pre- and post-exposure to trypophobic images and analyzed for IL-6 and TNF-alpha using ELISA and RT-qPCR methods. Results: IL-6 and TNF-alpha protein levels significantly increased post-exposure, with IL-6 changes varying by stimulus type. mRNA expression showed significant interaction with participants' trypophobia sensitivity scores, suggesting post-transcriptional mechanisms. Heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate were measured before, during, and after exposure using photoplethysmography. Significant changes in HRV metrics, influenced by stimulus type and trypophobia sensitivity, indicated increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic nervous system activity during and after exposure. Conclusions: These findings highlight the role of physiological and inflammatory responses in trypophobia, suggesting immune activation and autonomic nervous system involvement based on stimulus type and individual sensitivity. These findings not only contribute to phobia literature but also shed light on the physiological and immunological changes that take place in the bodies of individuals with high sensitivity to trypophobia.