• Question: Do your pupils in your eyes go bigger when you get scared? If so why?

    Asked by 9chadh to Antonia, Douglas, Hugh, Matt, Tom on 18 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Antonia Hamilton

      Antonia Hamilton answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      yes, your pupils get bigger to let more light into your eye so your brain can process information quicker

    • Photo: Matthew Hurley

      Matthew Hurley answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      This is because of the ‘flight or fight response’. Adrenaline makes your heart race faster to get oxygen to your muscles and your brain gets hyperalert. Your pupils dilate to optimise the amount of light at the back of the eye so that you know what’s going on around you.

    • Photo: Douglas Blane

      Douglas Blane answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Yes they do.

      They also get bigger when you’re excited about something. It’s all part of the body’s way of getting ready to deal with trouble.

      It’s called the “fight or flight response”. Which means your body is getting ready to run from danger or tackle it head on.

      So if you’re frightened or excited your pupils get bigger. You breathe faster. Less blood goes to your stomach and more to your muscles. And you don’t feel much pain.

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