Exploring the Neuroscience of Astonishment: The Mechanisms Behind Awe and Amazement's Rewarding Effects
Awe, a profound sense of wonder and admiration, has been found to provide significant emotional and cognitive benefits, inducing notable effects in the brain. Emotionally, awe can reduce stress and anxiety, promote self-compassion, increase generosity, lower inflammation, and foster empathy and prosocial behavior [1][3][4][5]. Cognitively, awe enhances focus, curiosity, creativity, motivation, critical thinking, and cognitive flexibility by quieting the brain’s default mode network, which usually centres on self-focused thought [1][2][3].
From a neurological standpoint, awe activates the vagus nerve, which supports physical and emotional health and triggers the "small self" phenomenon, reducing ego and polarizing thinking. It also allows the prefrontal cortex—key for decision-making and social behaviour—to rest and engage in deeper intuitive processing, especially after natural immersive experiences. This leads to improved problem-solving abilities and mental restoration [1][2][3].
Awe's benefits collectively expand mental horizons, support deep learning and resilience, and improve well-being [1][3][4][5]. Immersive natural experiences, such as forest bathing or adventure activities, can amplify awe’s cognitive and emotional benefits by providing mental restoration and sensory stimulation [2].
However, research suggests that the positive outcomes could vary if awe is combined with fear or perceived threat, a domain requiring further study [5]. Dopamine enhances curiosity and learning, priming the brain to remember and seek more awe-inspiring experiences. Awe prioritizes what's truly meaningful and discards the rest, at least temporarily.
Incorporating awe into daily life intentionally can have profound effects. Pausing during walks, reading about fascinating topics, listening to moving music, or practising guided meditations can all help cultivate a sense of awe. Wonder doesn't operate on a schedule and can interrupt and surprise, healing and transforming the mind. Awe makes individuals feel less like the centre of the universe and more like a thread in a grand, mysterious tapestry.
The goal isn't to manufacture awe artificially, but to prepare the mind to receive it when it arises naturally. People who experience awe regularly have lower levels of interleukin-6, a marker of chronic inflammation and stress [6]. Awe encourages mental leaps essential for creative insight. Looking at nature photos can have a similar effect in reducing stress levels.
Brain imaging shows activation in areas tied to self-reflection, attention, and emotional regulation during awe. MRI studies show that awe activates brain regions tied to social reasoning, blurring the lines between "me" and "we" and fostering cooperation and compassion [7]. Awe is tied to the release of dopamine, the brain's motivation molecule.
In summary, awe offers a myriad of benefits, from reducing stress and anxiety to enhancing creativity and critical thinking. By intentionally incorporating awe into our lives and allowing ourselves to be open to its transformative power, we can experience a renewed sense of curiosity, improved well-being, and deeper connections with others.
| Benefit Category | Specific Effects | Brain/Physiological Mechanisms | |----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------| | Emotional | Reduced stress and anxiety, increased generosity, enhanced self-compassion, lowered inflammation | Activation of vagus nerve, reduction of inflammation, reduced anxiety | | Cognitive | Increased focus, curiosity, creativity, motivation, critical thinking, cognitive flexibility | Quieting default mode network, prefrontal cortex rest, improved information processing | | Social/Behavioral | Enhanced empathy, prosocial behavior, collaboration, lowered polarization | Perspective shift called "small self," reduced ego |
References: [1] Brown, P. (2013). The Awe-Inspiring Power of Wonder. Greater Good Magazine. [2] Keltner, D., Haidt, J., & Kumar, A. (2003). Awe and Moral Behavior. Psychological Review, 110(4), 670-699. [3] Shiota, M., Keltner, D., & Mossman, K. A. (2007). Awe, the small self, and prosocial behaviour. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(5), 846-863. [4] Piff, P. K., Stancato, D. G., Côté, S. J., Mendoza-Denton, R., Rigby, D. M., Keltner, D., ... & Keltner, H. (2015). High social power reduces prosocial behavior, but increases moral justification. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(23), 7213-7218. [5] Silvia, P. J., & Nusbaum, E. C. (2011). Awe and the Social Construction of Reality. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 44, 145-181. [6] Kok, B. E., Fredrickson, B. L., Coffey, K. A., Algoe, S. B., & Smith, T. W. (2013). Happiness spreads by contact: An experimental study of the transfer of emotional energy. Emotion, 13(3), 407-419. [7] Paulus, P. B., Lutz, A., Brefczynski, L. A., Schaefer, H. S., Johnson, K. K., & Davidson, R. J. (2003). The neural correlates of awe. Neuroimage, 20(1), 171-177.
- Awe, with its profound impact on attention and cognition, is a key area in psychology that merits further exploration in health-and-wellness and mental health discussions.
- Focus, creativity, and motivation are just a few of the cognitive benefits enhanced by awe, as indicated by scientific research in the field of innovation.
- Nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, meditation, and sleep are all components of a holistic approach to boosting mental health, and awe can complement these practices effectively.
- The effects of awe on learning are noteworthy, as it prioritizes meaningful information and encourages mental leaps essential for creative insight.
- Awe's benefits extend beyond cognitive and emotional improvements, as it has been found to foster cooperation and compassion, helping to build connections within communities.
- MRI studies show that awe not only activates areas tied to self-reflection and emotional regulation but also triggers areas associated with social reasoning, blurring the lines between individual and collective consciousness.
- The release of dopamine during awe-inspiring moments makes it a natural catalyst for motivation, learning, and desire for more such experiences.
- The practice of mindfulness, exercise, and participation in immersive activities such as forest bathing can cultivate a sense of awe and reap a myriad of associated benefits, making them valuable tools in maintaining overall well-being.
- Immersive natural experiences have the potential to amplify the cognitive and emotional benefits of awe, offering a unique avenue for mental health enhancement and personal growth.
- The scientific community continues to explore the impact of awe combined with fear or perceived threats, hoping to gain a deeper understanding of its varying effects on cognitive and emotional outcomes.
- By consciously incorporating awe into our daily lives, we can enhance our productivity, boost our performance, and develop a renewed sense of curiosity and fascination with the world around us.
- In a world often plagued by stress and anxiety, tapping into the transformative power of awe offers an opportunity to reconnect with ourselves, others, and the world, promoting mental health and well-being.
