Eli5: Why do things moving quickly in our peripheral vision startle us so much? Especially in a normally safe place like home
In: Biology
Humans used to be big cat prey. Leopards and lions stalk from where they think the prey isn’t looking, and humans have exceptional forward vision due to how our eyes are set and our brain’s ability to remember. If a human wants to, they cannot be fooled by “this wasn’t here thirty seconds ago but it’s very still and natural.”
So attacking us from the front does not work. Or it at least has a very high casualty rate for the cat, which is the same thing in evolution.
Reacting quickly to something in peripheral vision saved your ancestors and their kids.
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