Teeth chattering

[Lateralus]

I'm curious about the origin of this reflex. Do species other than humans exhibit this?

 

[Amargith]

Isn't it just like the trembling of your skin: your muscles trying to compensate for the loss of heat?
Huh...good question about other species. I'll get back to you on that.

 

[Lateralus]

I'm wondering how it evolved. Do all humans have this reflex? If so, I would assume other species have it as well. But I've never heard of other species doing this. It's something I would assume evolved in colder climates. So if no other species has this reflex, I would think that not all humans have it.

Someone needs to answer my questions!

 

[ThatGirl]

Interesting, Ive seen dogs chatter when severly aggrivated.


Its not always a respone to just cold either.

 

[Amargith]

no that's frustration actually

 

[Randomnity]

I'm not completely sure, but I think it's just a direct result of shivering (ie your neck/jaw muscles) rather than a reflex.

I'm pretty sure most other mammals shiver to generate heat (via the inefficient breakdown of metabolites while generating movement); I'm not sure whether their teeth chatter in the process. I'd be surprised if monkeys didn't get chattering teeth in the cold though.

 

[Anja]

My cats chatter when they see a bird and get excited about the possibilities. . .

 

[Giggly]

Monkeys smile and chatter their teeth when they are frightened.

 

[Unique]

Stop doing drugs