&
BY OUR EXPERT PANEL
YOUR QUESTI0NS ANSWERED
Christian edits
The British
Psychological
Society’s Research
Digest blog. His
latest book is Great
Myths Of The Brain.DR CHRISTIAN
JARRETT
Alastair is a
radio astronomer
at the Jodrell
Bank Centre for
Astrophysics at
the University of
Manchester.DR ALASTAIR
GUNN
After studying
physics at Oxford,
Robert became a
science writer. He’s
visiting professor
in science at Aston
University.PROF ROBERT
MATTHEWS
Peter is a
computer
scientist and
author who
is based at
University College
London.DR PETER
J BENTLEY
Luis has a BSc in
computing and an
MSc in zoology
from Oxford. His
works include
How Cows Reach
The Ground.LUIS
VILLAZONPHOTO: GETTY
When we’re up high, the lack of nearby visual anchors makes our
bodies sway automatically – this contributes to the dizzying
sensation of vertigo. But most people aren’t afraid of heights, not
in the sense of having ‘acrophobia’, which is when the mere
thought of falling can bring on a panic attack. The rest of us are
either height intolerant, height tolerant or height enjoying.
Members of the last group have got used to, or even find
pleasure in, the sensations brought on by heights, and many
also get a thrill from the associated risks. CJWhy isn’t everyone
afraid of heights?
French climber Alain
Robert, aka Spider-Man,
climbing a 448m-high
building in 2007