Perception has been conceptualised as an active and adaptive process, based upon incoming sensory inputs, which are modified by top-down factors such as cognitions. Visuospatial perception is thought to be scaled based on threat, with highly threatening objects or contexts visually inflated to promote escape or avoidance behaviours. This meta-analytical systematic review quantified the effect and evidence quality of threat-evoked visuospatial scaling, as well as how visuospatial scaling relates to affordances (perceived action capabilities) and behavioural avoidance/escape outcomes. Databases and grey literature were systematically searched inclusive to 10/04/24. Studies were assessed with a customised Risk of Bias form and meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. 12,354 records were identified. Of these, 49 experiments ( = 3027) were included in the review. There was consistent evidence that threat the of height influenced contextual perception (g = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.88) and affordances (g = -0.43, 95% CI: -0.84, -0.03). Threatening objects were viewed as larger (g = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.26, 1.26) and as closer (g = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.42). Bodily threat (pain) yielded conflicting effects on visuospatial perception/affordances. We conclude that threat may influence visuospatial perception and affordances. However, since behavioural measures were poorly reported, their relationship with visuospatial perception/affordances remains elusive.

中文翻译：

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威胁对视觉空间感知、可供性和保护行为的影响：系统评价和荟萃分析


感知被概念化为一个主动和适应性的过程，基于传入的感官输入，并通过认知等自上而下的因素进行修改。视觉空间感知被认为是根据威胁进行缩放的，具有高度威胁性的物体或环境在视觉上会被夸大，以促进逃避或回避行为。这项元分析系统综述量化了威胁诱发的视觉空间尺度的效果和证据质量，以及视觉空间尺度与可供性（感知行动能力）和行为回避/逃避结果的关系。系统检索了截至 2024 年 10 月 4 日的数据库和灰色文献。研究采用定制的偏倚风险形式进行评估，并使用随机效应模型进行荟萃分析。已识别出 12,354 条记录。其中，49 个实验 ( = 3027) 被纳入评价。有一致的证据表明，身高威胁影响情境感知（g = 0.66，95% CI：0.45，0.88）和可供性（g = -0.43，95% CI：-0.84，-0.03）。威胁物体被视为较大（g = 0.76，95% CI：0.26，1.26）和较近（g = 0.30，95% CI：0.17，0.42）。身体威胁（疼痛）对视觉空间感知/可供性产生相互矛盾的影响。我们的结论是，威胁可能会影响视觉空间感知和可供性。然而，由于行为测量的报道很少，它们与视觉空间感知/可供性的关系仍然难以捉摸。