Taking a tour of one of the haunted houses or passages of terror that are found in numerous amusement parks throughout the year, or those that are open during festivities such as Halloween, for example, is one of the favorite activities for lovers of spending time. afraid, but who do not want to expose themselves to real risks.
Although for others, being afraid is already a risk, they should know that it could be beneficial for their health, since a new study has made a surprising discovery by showing that people experience a significant decrease in inflammatory markers and white blood cells after visiting a haunted house and that this could strengthen its defenses. The results have been published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
Fear is often considered a negative emotion because it is a warning mechanism about real or potential dangers, but many humans like experiences that provoke fear, such as watching horror movies, reading mystery novels, or visiting these specifically designed haunted houses. to scare This phenomenon is known as “recreational fear” and is defined as a mixture of fear and enjoyment.
An optimal point to enjoy being scared
Mathias Clasen, co-author of the study and an expert at Aarhus University, heads the Recreational Fear Lab, a laboratory dedicated to studying recreational fear, together with cognitive scientist Marc Andersen. Clasen has explored, for example, the predominant personality traits among horror fans, who tend to score high on openness to new experiences.
In 2019 he also analyzed how people regulate fear in a haunted house in Denmark, identifying two main strategies: “adrenaline junkies,” who embrace fear, and “contents,” who try to suppress it. In 2020, the lab analyzed data collected at the Dystopia haunted house in Vejle, Denmark, a commercial attraction with 42 themed rooms, audiovisual effects, and actors wearing makeup and costumes to create an immersive environment.
Participants with prior inflammation showed a notable decrease in C-reactive protein levels after visiting an immersive commercial attraction specifically designed to scare
The researchers monitored the participants’ heart rates and facial expressions using infrared cameras, in addition to completing questionnaires before and after the experience. The results confirmed that there is an optimal point of fear – not too much, not too little – that maximizes enjoyment. This balance is found between predictability and unpredictability, in an environment where there is a perceived certain control, but also a degree of uncertainty.
An immune system enhancing factor
The most recent study was carried out between September and November 2023, and in it they took their analysis one step further. They recruited 113 volunteers, from whom they took blood samples before, immediately after, and three days after visiting the haunted house, with the intention of measuring levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a key indicator of immune response, as well as such as the evolution of immune cells in the blood.
The results showed that there were no significant changes in low-grade inflammation in the participants. However, those with previous inflammation showed a notable decrease in CRP levels after the experience. Additionally, the number of white blood cells (leukocytes) decreased, suggesting that inflammation could be reduced in a recreational fear environment.
Despite the findings, the authors acknowledge several limitations because factors such as exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking, diet, stress or psychiatric problems such as depression and anxiety, which could also influence the results, were not controlled. .
A control group was also not included, so there are questions about whether the inflammatory responses were due solely to fear or natural fluctuations. For all these reasons, although the results are promising, the researchers concluded that additional studies are needed to explore the role of the adrenergic system and confirm the duration of these positive effects.
