Why Do We Blink When We’re Surprised?

We blink when we're surprised because our brain sends a quick message to our eyes. Imagine you're playing hide and seek, and suddenly someone jumps out from behind the couch, your brain is like a fast runner who shouts, 'Look out!' and makes your eyes shut for just a moment so you can process what happened.

Take the quiz →

Examples

  1. You're watching a movie and suddenly the screen flashes, you blink almost instantly.
  2. Your friend jumps out from behind a door, and you can't help but blink at the surprise.
  3. A loud crash happens while you’re eating, your eyes shut for just a second.

Ask a question

See also

Loading…

Discussion

Recent activity

Categories: Psychology · Blinking,Surprise,Neuroscience,Reflexes