What scares you?
Is it things that go bump in the night? Maybe it is strange animals or, perhaps, the neighborhood bully?
Whatever it is, our reaction to fear and fright is a deep-seated part of our species. Exploring what fear and fright is and how our bodies cope with it is behind “Goose Bumps!,” the latest exhibit at the Pacific Science Center.
Discover why our hearts race, our knees shake, and our bodies sweat when we are scared in The Science of Fear. Through this interactive exhibit, visitors will find challenges for all ages, Goose Bumps! uncovers the science behind the physical and emotional responses of the lifesaving emotion of fear.
Guests explore their physical and emotional reactions to some of the most common fears in our society – from the fear of falling to the fear of creepy-crawly creatures. Along the way, they’ll encounter current research on the neurobiology, physiology and psychology of fear.
Probably the best part of the exhibit is a series of four rooms that tests how your body reacts to certain common fears.
The so-called “Fear Challenge Course” allows visitors to face four common fears in a safe environment. The first challenge, fear of animals, dares guests to reach into concealed terrariums that might be the home of creepy-crawly creatures. In the next room, fear of electric shock, guests may feel their heart pounding as they anticipate getting zapped by a jolt of electricity. In Fear of loud noises guests test an innate fear that helps keep us out of harm's way. Finally, the fear of falling challenge allows guests to experience a sudden loss of support and then watch a video recording of their reaction.
Even though you know the experiences are coming, it is still hard not to react in some way.
The exhibit has plenty of interesting information on how the brain uses fear, the pathways that drive the fear response and other interesting science.
But the interactive parts of the exhibit are the best including a simple, yet fun immersive video game that explores common responses to danger, including freeze, fight and flight. Guests will discover how fear helps all animals, including humans, to stay alive.
There is also a section called “Fear Theatre,” in which you can see a documentary that discusses how our concepts of fear and what scares has changed along with our cultural and economic development. While the movie is good for adults and history buffs, it will probably bore most kids within a few minutes.
Entry to Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear is included with the price of general admission, FREE for Pacific Science Center members. Admission to Pacific Science Center is $14 for adults; $9 for youth 6 to 15; $7 for kids 3-5 and $12 for seniors 65 and over. Children under three receive free admission. For more information, please call (206) 443-2001 or go to pacificsciencecenter.org.
Pacific Science Center is located under the arches, near the Space Needle in Seattle.
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