Why do haunted houses, horror movies and roller coasters feel exciting instead of frightening? Matthew Sutherland, a cognitive neuroscientist and researcher at FIU’s Center for Children and Families, says the answer lies in how the brain’s alarm, control and reward systems work together.
Sutherland said the amygdala, the brain’s alarm center, releases adrenaline and stress hormones when a jump scare hits. The prefrontal cortex then helps people realize the threat is fake, and fear shifts to thrill. Dopamine follows, which he said explains why people often leave haunted houses laughing and want to go back.
Children process fear differently. Their amygdalae develop early, while the prefrontal cortex matures much later, so younger kids often react as if a pretend threat is real. Sutherland said most children begin to enjoy safe scares around age seven or eight. Parents can preview decorations in daylight, pick age-appropriate scares and let kids take the lead.
Sharing a scare also helps. Sutherland said the hormone oxytocin, which builds trust, is released when people face fear together. Kids with anxiety or ADHD may react more strongly or seek bigger thrills, he said.
Families who see signs of intense fear or anxiety can contact the Center for Children and Families at 305-348-0477 or visit ccf.fiu.edu.
