In a groundbreaking new study published in Communications Psychology, researchers have unveiled compelling evidence that the human experience of awe is far more nuanced than previously understood. Contrary to the popular perception of awe as a solely positive and uplifting emotion, this latest research illuminates its intrinsically ambivalent nature. Through a meticulous exploration of both behavioral responses and neural activity, the study provides a complex portrait of awe as an emotion that simultaneously evokes feelings of wonder and subtle unease. This duality, researchers argue, is pivotal for understanding how awe shapes human cognition and social behavior.
The concept of awe has fascinated psychologists and neuroscientists for decades, primarily because it encapsulates a profound emotional response to vastness or something perceived as grand and beyond ordinary experience. Traditionally, awe has been linked with positive outcomes, such as increased prosocial behavior, enhanced creativity, and expanded perception of time. However, the research team led by Lee, Han, and Oh dives deeper into the affective components of awe, revealing it to be an ambivalent experience that activates both approach and avoidance systems within the brain. This fundamental insight challenges the simplistic categorization of awe within emotional spectra and opens new avenues in affective neuroscience.
Central to the study’s methodology was the use of high-resolution neuroimaging techniques combined with rigorous psychological assessments of participants’ emotional states. Volunteers were exposed to awe-inspiring stimuli — ranging from visual scenes of vast natural landscapes and cosmic phenomena to profound human achievements. As these stimuli were presented, brain activity was monitored using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), allowing the research team to pinpoint cortical regions engaged during the experience of awe. These neural signatures were then correlated with subjective reports, which disclosed a layered emotional experience encompassing both fascination and a trace of discomfort.
One of the most remarkable findings from the imaging data was the simultaneous activation of regions commonly associated with positive emotional processing, such as the ventral striatum and medial prefrontal cortex, alongside areas linked to cognitive conflict and internal tension, including the anterior cingulate cortex and insula. This coupling suggests that awe does not simply elicit pleasure or admiration, but also engages neural mechanisms that process ambiguity and emotional complexity. The engagement of these conflict-related regions might explain why awe can sometimes be overwhelming or even frightening, despite its often sublime nature.
The researchers further theorize that this ambivalent affective signature is evolutionarily advantageous. Awe frequently occurs in contexts where individuals confront entities or ideas that exceed their current cognitive frameworks, such as vast mountains or existential concepts like the infinite universe. The blend of positive curiosity and nascent apprehension mobilizes the brain’s capacity for cognitive expansion — encouraging individuals to reassess their understanding of the world while maintaining an alertness to potential threats. This dynamic balance between approach and avoidance could thus foster adaptive learning and social cohesion by enhancing both openness and caution.
Beyond neurobiological insights, the study also delves into the behavioral implications of awe’s ambivalence. Participants’ self-reports and subsequent behavioral tasks indicated that experiencing awe increased willingness to engage with novel ideas and reduced self-focus, traits linked with enhanced empathy and creativity. Yet, simultaneously, many participants described a subtle tension, a sense of smallness or vulnerability alongside wonder. This emotional complexity was found to modulate social behaviors, sometimes prompting more cautious interpersonal engagement even as it inspired cooperation and altruism, highlighting awe’s paradoxical influence on human relationships.
This reconceptualization of awe as an inherently ambivalent affect has profound implications for various fields. In clinical psychology, for instance, it could inform therapeutic strategies aimed at harnessing awe to alleviate conditions characterized by rigid thinking or emotional stagnation, while also being mindful of its potential to trigger anxiety or existential unease. Educational domains might benefit from designing awe-inspiring learning experiences that foster curiosity and cognitive flexibility without overwhelming learners. Even in the arts and media, a nuanced appreciation of awe could enrich narrative techniques that seek to evoke deep emotional and intellectual engagement.
The interdisciplinary nature of this research is equally striking. By integrating psychological theory, cutting-edge neuroscience, and behavioral science, the study sets a high standard for investigating complex emotional phenomena. It not only advances fundamental science but also bridges the gap between abstract emotional concepts and observable neurocognitive mechanisms. This integrated approach underscores the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in unraveling the intricacies of human emotion and cognition, especially for feelings as multifaceted as awe.
Importantly, the research also raises new questions about the variability of awe experiences across cultural and individual differences. While the current study focused on a relatively homogenous participant group, future investigations may explore how sociocultural backgrounds, personality traits, and prior experiences shape the ambivalence of awe. Such research could uncover whether some populations experience awe with greater positivity or greater tension and how this impacts their psychological resilience and social interactions.
Moreover, the neural complexity documented here invites a reevaluation of how affective experiences are modeled in cognitive science. Awe’s dual activation of reward and conflict-related brain areas exemplifies how emotions cannot be neatly categorized into binary dimensions such as positive or negative. Instead, emotions like awe seem to encompass a spectrum of feelings that interact dynamically within the brain, challenging simplified models and pointing toward more holistic frameworks of emotional experience.
This study also elucidates the importance of context in modulating awe’s affective tone. The degree of ambivalence experienced may shift depending on environmental factors, the nature of the awe-inspiring stimulus, and an individual’s psychological state at the time of exposure. Understanding these contextual moderators could enable practical applications, such as designing environments or experiences that maximize the beneficial aspects of awe while mitigating potential anxiety-inducing effects.
Technologically, the precision of neuroimaging used in this study allowed researchers to map the cerebral underpinnings of an abstract emotional state with remarkable clarity. Advances in fMRI and data analysis techniques made it feasible to detect fine-grained patterns of activation correlating with subjective emotional reports. This methodological rigor not only strengthens the study’s conclusions but also exemplifies the potential of neuroscientific tools to deepen our understanding of complex subjective phenomena that have traditionally eluded empirical scrutiny.
The findings resonate beyond the laboratory, offering insights into everyday human experiences. From gazing at a starlit sky to witnessing acts of profound kindness or artistic grandeur, awe permeates human life with its characteristic blend of joy and humility, fascination and fear. Recognizing the ambivalent nature of awe enriches our appreciation of these moments, highlighting their emotional depth and transformative potential. This research invites us to reconsider how we engage with awe, not merely as moments of passive admiration but as emotionally charged experiences that challenge and expand our inner worlds.
In essence, this landmark study redefines awe as a multifaceted emotion characterized by an intricate interplay between attraction and aversion, stability and change, known and unknown. By disentangling its ambivalence at both the behavioral and neural levels, it paves the way for a deeper understanding of a fundamental human experience that has long been cloaked in mystery. As further research builds upon these findings, we are poised to discover even richer insights into how such powerful emotions shape our cognition, behavior, and social bonds.
Ultimately, the work by Lee, Han, and Oh stands as a testament to the complexity of the human emotional landscape. Awe, often celebrated as a pure and uplifting feeling, reveals itself as an ambivalent force that engenders both wonder and discomfort, creating fertile ground for psychological growth. In an age where emotional intelligence and mental wellbeing are increasingly emphasized, such nuanced insights carry enormous significance for science, medicine, education, and everyday life alike.
Subject of Research:
The study investigates the ambivalent nature of awe, focusing on its characterization as a complex affective state through behavioral analysis and neural correlates.
Article Title:
Awe is characterized as an ambivalent affect in human behavior and cortex.
Article References:
Lee, J., Han, D.D., Oh, S.Y. et al. Awe is characterized as an ambivalent affect in the human behavior and cortex. Commun Psychol 3, 123 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-025-00299-2
Image Credits:
AI Generated
