Horror

You've landed a small role in a low-budget horror movie. To get ready, you need to [practice:participate] your reaction shot - you know, that look you'll get when your boss peels off his face to reveal the slime-oozing alien he really is. So, look in the mirror and give us some terror. If you're doing it right, your eyes are wide open and your eyebrows are raised.But why is that? I mean, how come, people, when they're scared, all make a similar face? Darwin thought there was a reason, that our [expressions:impressions] evolved because they offer some benefit. And scientists from Ontario think Darwin was right. They asked volunteers to try to look [frightened:terrified] and then they [measured:calculated] the physiological effects. They found that making a fraidy face allows people to see farther, locate targets faster and take in more air when they breathe. The findings appear in the current online issue of Nature Neuroscience. Those reactions make sense, because if you see something [startling:robbing] or out of the ordinary, you can use your [fear-enhanced:bright] vision to assess the situation and, if need be, take a deep, fear-boosted breath - and run!