
CityBeat: UC research finds spiders might recognize faces
UC's Morehouse Lab is unlocking secrets of spider vision and recognition
CityBeat profiled the work of students in the University of Cincinnati's Morehouse Lab who are exploring the vision and cognition of jumping spiders.
UC doctoral student Jenny Sung is examining if female paradise jumping spiders use the male's colorful face designs to choose a good mate.
The spiders are nearly imperceptibly small but magnification shows their impressive, bold facial markings.
Sung's research was inspired in part by her fascination with uniquely painted Peking Opera Masks, which help communicate motivation, emotion and pathos to the audience.
UC associate professor Nathan Morehouse said his team's work suggests spiders pay attention to faces.
“There is this interesting thread between our focus on how much we care about faces as humans and how many decisions we make based on faces and this world of jumping spiders,” Morehouse told CityBeat. “But we always have to keep in mind that their brains — their cognition — everything about the situation is different. It's this interesting exploration of the sameness and difference of these two worlds.”
UC doctoral student Jenny Sung holds up a jumping spider in UC's biology lab. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative + Brand
Related Stories
Leaders, scholars, changemakers: CoM students earn prestigious...
May 13, 2025
The University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of three remarkable students, who have been recognized with two of the university’s highest honors.
CCM welcomes new violin faculty member Kenneth Renshaw
May 12, 2025
UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras has announced the appointment of Kenneth Renshaw as CCM's new Assistant Professor of Violin. His faculty appointment officially begins on Aug. 15, 2025. Born and raised in San Francisco, Renshaw came to international attention in 2012 after winning First Prize at the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition in Beijing. He was also a prize winner in the Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition of Belgium, and First Prize recipient of the inaugural Manhattan International Concert Artists Competition.
Engineers develop stress test to measure cortisol
May 12, 2025
Yahoo! Finance highlights research into home tests that can diagnose stress and cardiac issues.