"Goose Bumps!: The Science of Fear" Exhibit
May 28, 2016 - December 30, 2016
"Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear", developed by the California Science Center, provides an experiential and holistic view of fear science, examining the physiological, neurobiological, and sociological aspects of fear.
Engaging activities in Goose Bumps! allow visitors to experience fear in a safe and enjoyable environment, rate their response, understand the science behind the emotion, and reflect upon its personal meaning.
Fear Challenge Course
Get your heart pumping and your palms sweaty as you face some common fears, such as the Fear of Animals, the Fear of Electric Shock, and the Fear of Falling.
Fear Lab
Meet Mr. Goose Bumps, a larger-than-life figure that uses playful animations to show how the brain and body work together to respond to danger. Interactive experiences help you delve deeper into the brain systems and pathways activated by fear, and graphic panels profile scientists doing cutting-edge emotion research.
Faces of Emotion
Explore the facial expressions of fear and other emotions and interact with an experimental software program that tries to analyze and identify your facial expressions.
Fear in the Wild
Play the "Freeze Game," an immersive interactive video installation, and learn how animals survive in their natural environments.
Fear Theater
Catch a live demo focusing on the process of fear conditioning, and learn how scientists measure the fear response in the lab. Then watch a brief documentary-style video about the interaction between our collective fears and entertainment, history and culture.
Coping with Fear
Explore the way fears change over a lifetime and learn how to help children deal with their fears.
This project was supported, in part, by the Informal Science Education program of the National Science Foundation under grant ESI-0515470.
Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear was developed by the California Science Center.
The exhibit is sponsored locally by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Foundation, Gertrude C. Ford Foundation, YoungWells, Regions, Nissan North America, Ergon, Steve and Chris Zachow, and other generous sponsors.
