Why is fear fun?
Brain researchers have learned a lot in recent years about the chemistry, the electrical impulses, the ancient fight-or-flight response that couldn’t care less whether you’re facing a real monster or just a monster in a movie.
Maybe you care that the part of your head that processes emotion and memory is called the amygdala. A recent New York Times story about the science of fear referred to the amygdala as an “evolutionarily ancient” part of the human brain. The amygdala doesn’t discriminate; when confronted with a dark alley on your walk home or just a dark corridor in the fun house, it starts flooding deeper regions of the brain — the midbrain and the hypothalamus — with a substance called glutamate. Glutamate triggers your automatic nervous system.
And before you know it, your whole system is rocking: Adrenaline, heart rate, sweaty palms, prickly skin, maybe even gasping and trembling. You’re ready to rumble — or to flee.
Scientists know that the amygdala is responsible for all this because of the recent test case of the so-called “woman who showed no fear.” As reported in the Times, this victim of a rare brain disease was left with a nonfunctioning amygdala. It rendered her cool as a cucumber when exploring Halloween haunted houses — and even her own truly dangerous, crime-ridden neighborhood. (But she experienced a totally unexpected panic attack when inhaling carbon dioxide in an experiment that has scientists now parsing the differences between perceived external threats and internal, bodily ones.)
But why do some people enjoy fear — scary movies, “fun” houses, even risky stunts — while others can’t tolerate it? It seems to have to do with the release of another chemical, dopamine, which triggers pleasure and pleasure-seeking behaviors as well as sensations of fear and dread. Some people apparently lack what scientists have described as “brakes” on dopamine activity in the brain; these are the ones who seem to find terror less terrifying than amusing.
Feel like testing your own brain’s fear v. fun response? Here’s our roundup of scary (and, OK, not-so-scary) Halloween outings.
Boo!
- Apple Cider Pressing at the Grist Mill, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 31. Celebrate Halloween and the harvest as volunteers at the Cedar Creek Grist Mill press 12,000 pounds of apples into fresh cider. Visitors can help crank the press, enjoy the bluegrass jam on the back deck or tour the historic mill. Musicians welcomed. Cedar Creek Grist Mill, 43907 N.E. Grist Mill Road, Woodland; $4 suggested donation per half gallon of cider, limited to two per adult. 360-225-5832 or http://cedarcreekgristmill.org
- Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Special, 10 p.m. Oct. 31. Join the Denton Delinquents as they live-shadowcast the cult movie “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” with prop bags available for purchase. In honor of Halloween, there will be a costume contest. Though it’s an all-ages event, the movie is rated R, so parental discretion is advised. Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver; $10, $2 or $8 for props. http://dentondelinquents.weebly.com/halloween.html or www.kigginstheatre.net
- Run 2 Survive ZombieFest, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 31. It’s a running battle between zombies and survivors during this 5K fun run that benefits the Evergreen School District Foundation. Runners can choose which side to participate on, with survivors given a five-minute head start and a goal to outrun the zombies, while the zombies attempt to “kill” survivors by grabbing life flags tied to runners’ belts. There will also be a Little Zombie Run for ages 3 to 12, and an after party with local brews. Makeup artists will be on-site to apply zombie make-up. Blue Lake Park, 20500 N.E. Marine Drive, Fairview, Ore.; $55 for survivors, $45 for zombies. http://energyevents.com/run2survive
- Trail of Terror, 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 30-31. Visitor can walk the Trail of Terror and brave the grounds of an old farm where the Children of the Corn now dwell at this Halloween attraction for all ages. Trail of Terror, 6600 N.E. 144th St., Vancouver; $10. 360-989-4766
- Four Horsemen at the Clark County SCAREGrounds, 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 30-31. Travel through three large indoor haunts — ScreamHouse in 3D, Hill House and The Asylum. There will also be the new interactive laser tag walkthrough adventure, the Android Rebellion. Enjoy Halloween-themed carnival games and children activities. Admission includes all three haunts, with an extra charge for laser tag. Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield; $20, $7 for laser tag. www.fourhorsemenpdx.com
- Halloween Hanger, 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 31. The Pearson Field Education Center will host a flight-powered Halloween experience, with games and activities. Children can make whirligigs to test in the wind tunnel, build gliders or balloon-powered cars, or test out virtual planes with the flight simulator lab. Pearson Field Education Center, 201A E. Reserve St., Vancouver; free. 360-992-1815 or www.fortvan.org/eventdetail/572/halloween-hangar.html
- Halloween Fun Fest, 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 30. The 34th annual community celebration features a trick or treat street and Fright Night, a free community Halloween party for kids. Costumed kids can visit stops along Main Street, east of SR 503, to collect candy at locations with the paper jack-o-lantern in the window. The party will be at the community center, with activities and dancing for all. Battle Ground Community Center, 912 E. Main St., Battle Ground; free. 360-687-1510 or http://www.battlegroundchamber.org/pages/HalloweenFunFestTrick-O-TreatingMore
- Day of the Dead Celebration of Life, 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31. This Day of the Dead community event will celebrate life, culture and traditions. There will be art, music and marigolds, Mexican hot chocolate, sweet bread and presentations about the traditional holiday. Ballet Folklorico Olincalli will perform. North Bank Artists Gallery, 1005 Main St., Vancouver; free. 360-693-1840
— Compiled by Ashley Swanson
