Why do we gasp when we see something shocking?
In: Biology
It’s part of the fight or flight response.
Back when we were evolving in nature, seeing something “shocking” usually meant it was a direct threat to our lives, like a dangerous animal. Gasping is a quick inhale, providing more oxygen to our organs and better preparing us to either flee or defend ourselves. So, when we see something unexpected that shocks us enough that we gasp, the brain is interpreting it as a possible threat to our lives and automatically getting our body ready to deal with it.
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