The Science of Awe

Think about the last time you felt goosebumps. At a concert? Staring up at the night sky? Watching a child experience something for the first time?

That feeling—part wonder, part vastness, part humility—is awe.

Awe is an emotional response to something vast that transcends your current frame of reference. It’s an ancient and cutting-edge emotion that usually makes you rethink your place in the world. But it is far more than a fleeting feeling. It’s a biological reset button for your brain and body, with measurable effects on your nervous system, mood, and even your sense of meaning in life.

People often believe that awe can be difficult to find in daily life. But awe is all around us.

In this piece, we’ll explore awe, the science behind it, and how to find more of it in your life. For a deeper dive, you can listen to the latest episode of Mental Health Bites here or on Apple Podcasts. You can also find more short clips and helpful tips at my YouTube channel.

Let’s dive in.

The Science of Awe

We used to think awe was just poetic or spiritual. But now, scientists like Dacher Keltner and his colleagues at UC Berkeley have mapped out awe’s effects in the lab.

* Awe provides a nervous system reset. Awe activates the parasympathetic nervous system. (That’s your rest-and-digest mode, the opposite of fight-or-flight.) Awe slows your heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and helps your body shift into calm.

* Awe reduces rumination. When you’re in awe, your brain’s default mode network—the one responsible for self-referential, looping thoughts—quiets down. That means fewer “what ifs” and “should haves.” Awe literally shrinks your inner monologue.

* Awe boosts meaning. Awe expands your sense of time and space. People report feeling more connected to others, more inspired to help, and more satisfied with life after awe experiences.

* Awe promotes humility and perspective. Awe makes you feel small, but in a good way. Psychologists call this the “small self.” When you feel small in relation to something vast, you stop obsessing over little irritations and zoom out to see the bigger picture.