Scientists have discovered a brain pathway that explains why scary sounds can trigger fear before you even understand what you’re hearing.

Preclinical studies on animals have identified brain pathways that drive quick, protective fear responses to "scary" sounds.

Researchers identify a brain pathway in humans that enables rapid, unconscious fear responses to scary sounds, similar to visual fear shortcuts.

The brain has evolved to interpret these irregular sounds as potential danger, triggering that instinctive “fight or flight” response. It’s the reason the screeching violins in the movie “Psycho” or ...