Why Do You Jump In A Horror Movie?

Triggering The Brain

The amygdala is a region close to the base of the brain and it sends the brain chemical, glutamate, to two other regions of the brain. The first region is what causes the body to either freeze-up or jump involuntarily. The reactions are entirely automatic since the signal is sent deep into the base of the brain to an area that the body has very little control over. The second signal, which is forwarded to the hypothalamus, triggers the body’s autonomic nervous system which is the system that is responsible for the fight or flight instinct. The hypothalamus signal elevates the heart rate, blood pressure and shoots adrenaline throughout the body, which is the rush that is felt during a scare.

Keep reading to reveal the three stages of fear that the brain processes when dealing with a scary situation, such as watching a horror movie.