Why do some sudden noises scare the crap out of us, while others go nearly unnoticed?
(This is purely from what I understand about the flight or fight response; I have done no research into whether this is an accurate explanation so take it with a grain of salt). If your ears cannot detect or is not expecting a specific sound the brain defaults to "this sound is foreign or out of …
The Short Answer
(This is purely from what I understand about the flight or fight response; I have done no research into whether this is an accurate explanation so take it with a grain of salt). If your ears cannot detect or is not expecting a specific sound the brain defaults to "this sound is foreign or out of the norm so it must be bad" and releases some adrenaline to help you fight the the threat or go away. In the days of primitive humans, a foreign or unusual sound usually meant danger, so the brain evolved this response to help fight or flee from the perceived threat. Since your brain knew the second time around the sound wasn't a threatening sound or you might have been expecting it your brain simply ignored the signal to release adrenaline, since the brain wants to conserve as much energy as possible; again this comes from speculation and my limited knowledge of how the human body actually works; fellow redditors free to correct me if I have misunderstood or misinterpreted anything.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Sound, brain, fight
This explanation focuses on sound, brain, fight and spans 176 words across 4 sentences. At 155% above the average Human Body explanation (69 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “(This is purely from what I understand about the flight or fight response; I have done no research into whether this is “ It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 4 connected points.
How This Compares in Human Body
Ranked #4 of 500 Human Body questions by answer depth (top 2%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why some sudden noises scare the crap out of us, while others go nearly unnoticed?
(This is purely from what I understand about the flight or fight response; I have done no research into whether this is an accurate explanation so take it with a grain of salt). If your ears cannot detect or is not expecting a specific sound the…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Human Body questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 176 words, ranked #4 of 500 Human Body questions by depth. The key concepts covered are sound, brain, fight.
What approach does this answer take to explain some sudden noises scare the crap out of us, while others go?
The explanation uses scientific references across 176 words. It is categorized under Human Body and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.