Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Application of Flow Vermimetry for Quantification and Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Gut Microbiome
Published on: March 31, 2023
Disgusting microbes: The effect of disgust on perceptions of risks related to modifying microbiomes
Sara K Yeo, Ye Sun, Meaghan McKasy1
1The University of Utah, USA.
Abstract:
Research on perceived risks of scientific issues has largely overlooked the influence of disgust as a predictor. Here, we examine the impact of disgust on perceived risks of modifying microbiomes using a 2 (emotion) × 2 (focus) experiment embedded in an online survey. We find evidence of moderated mediation where individuals exposed to an article about microbiome research and therapies with explicit references to disgusting stimuli perceived greater risk through a mediating variable, elicited disgust. This indirect effect is moderated by the focus of the article; those who viewed a human-focused article experienced greater disgust and reported greater perceived risks. These findings have implications for assessing and addressing lay audiences' reactions to an emerging issue that has significant societal implications.
Related Concept Videos
Subliminal Perception
Factors Affecting Perception
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
Perception
Bottom-up processing begins at the sensory level, where receptors detect external environmental stimuli. These could include the tactile sensation of...
Gestalt Principles of Perception
Auditory Perception
Extrasensory Perception
Precognition involves foreseeing future events, such as predicting an accident before it happens. An example of precognition could be someone dreaming about a specific event, like a car crash, which then occurs...

