Luke Fannin (Dartmouth): Monkey bars: catalyst of debate at the center of human evolutionary biology School of Psychology and Neuroscience Friday seminar series

The School of Psychology and Neuroscience seminar series presents a talk by Luke Fannin (Dartmouth) titled ‘Monkey bars: catalyst of debate at the center of human evolutionary biology and public health”, which will be hosted by Professor Catherine Hobaiter in person in the Old Library and online through MS Teams.

Abstract:
Play is an essential part of childhood, and growing attention has focused on the potential health benefits of ‘risky' or ‘thrill-seeking' play. Such play is readily observed on any playground, where it can sometimes lead to injuries from falls. Monkey bars account for ~7% of childhood arm fractures in the USA, an alarming statistic that raises difficult questions over its costs and benefits. This talk will commemorate the centennial anniversary of monkey bars by highlighting the evolutionary inspirations that led to its invention. I will also call attention to the human fossil record and play behaviors of non-human primates, providing a novel perspective that bolsters arguments for the adaptive significance of thrill-seeking play.

Key Paper:
Commemorating the monkey bars, catalyst of debate at the intersection of human evolutionary biology and public health Luke D. Fannin, Zaneta M. Thayer, Nathaniel J. Dominy Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, Volume 12, Issue 1, 2024, Pages 143–155. https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoae017