Tryphobia

Trypophobia is a proposed phobia (intense, irrational fear) of irregular patterns or clusters of small holes or bumps. The term is believed to have been coined by a participant in an online forum in 2005.

A now defunct website, trypophobia.com, describes the phenomenon with videos and images. Images containing clusters of holes are presented in an arrangement that claims to rank the likelihood they will induce fear. Early images in the series include fruits such as oranges and pomegranates. Then, clusters of holes with a possible association with danger are presented, such as honeycombs, frogs, and insects and arachnids. Finally, images feature wounds and diseases. Using data from the site, Wilkins and Cole analyzed example images and believe that the images had "unique characteristics". They state that the reaction behind the phobia was an "unconscious reflex reaction" based on a "primitive portion of the brain that associates the image with something dangerous" In another research article, Le, Cole and Wilkins developed a symptom questionnaire that they say can be used to identify trypophobia.