What happens to our body when we watch horror movies?

Contents

Fear and the amygdala
Fear and your heart beats faster
Fear widens our pupils
Fear and rapid breathing
Fear is also goose bumps and muscle tension

When we sit in the cinema or in front of the TV to watch another horror movie, we are ready for potential emotions and screams of terror. Few people, however, realize how much effort these few seconds of fear can be for the body as a reaction to a specific stimulus.

Fear and the amygdala

The fact that our brain perceives and recognizes emotions is due to the limbic system, and more specifically to the structures found in it, called the amygdala. It is these structures that are responsible for receiving electrical impulses and converting them into physiological and behavioral responses.

Through these impulses, we scream, jump, cover our eyes or try to run away and hide. Each reaction is instinctive and is intended to save our life in a moment of potential danger. It doesn’t really matter that this threat is perceived by the brain as sometimes terrible in a movie.

Then, in an emergency, the endocrine glands begin to produce a greater dose of the adrenaline hormone responsible for the stress mechanism. The so-called “adrenaline injection” causes an accelerated heartbeat, an increase in blood pressure, dilation of the bronchi and dilatation of the pupils. Adrenaline also gives you goose bumps.

Fear and your heart beats faster

When we are afraid, our heart starts beating faster, and as a result, our blood pressure rises. This is how the body prepares for a stressful situation in which we will have to fight or flee. Usually, the heart settles down and the heart rate slows down after a few minutes as the adrenaline level levels off. In times of danger, the blood supply to the heart and brain increases, while the blood vessels in less important parts of the body are narrowed.

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Fear widens our pupils

In stressful situations, the pupils dilate, allowing more light to enter the eye. We can then see better in the dark and at greater distances to react faster and better to the threat.

Fear and rapid breathing

At the same time as our pupils dilate, so does the muscles of the respiratory system. Thanks to this, we breathe shallower and faster, but we can take in more air. At the same time, the respiratory system reduces the secretion of mucus (i.e. saliva) that stops the germs from entering the lungs.

Fear is also goose bumps and muscle tension

The increase in adrenaline levels also triggers a pilomotor response, commonly known as “goosebumps”. The pimple muscles on our skin contract, which causes the hair to rise over a large area of the skin. All the muscles in the human body are then put on alert.