The researcher from the Department of Cell Biology and Histology of the Faculty of Medicine of the Complutense University of Madrid, José Ángel Morales, maintains that when people gather to contemplate an eclipse, they do not limit themselves to looking at the firmament, but rather activate some of the most primitive and profound circuits of the human brain linked to fascination. This is defined as a combination of curiosity, surprise, and emotion that, as he emphasizes, is not just a cultural phenomenon, but a biological process with a scientific basis analyzed by neuroscience.
Morales explains that one of the most widespread neurobiological models describes fascination as a reaction to a lack of information. "We perceive that there is something relevant that we do not know, and that generates a kind of cognitive tension that we want to resolve," Morales pointed out. This theoretical approach, proposed by psychologist George Loewenstein and reinforced by subsequent neuroscience research, suggests that the need to know functions as a powerful internal drive.
"An eclipse fits perfectly into this mechanism. We know enough to anticipate it, but its rarity, complexity, and spectacularity generate uncertainty. It's hard not to look," adds the expert.
Along these lines, he emphasizes that when something is fascinating, such as the moment the moon begins to cover the sun, brain areas such as the anterior cingulate cortex and the anterior insula are activated, responsible for detecting the unexpected and directing attention towards that stimulus.
At the same time, the activity of the so-called default mode network, associated with self-centered processes such as rumination or self-referential thought, is reduced. This shift in the balance of brain activity helps to understand a frequent experience during intense events: that of "forgetting oneself" and concentrating completely on what is happening.
A brain system that rewards learning
According to the researcher, as the eclipse progresses, another essential element comes into play: the brain's reward system. Areas such as the striatum and nucleus accumbens release dopamine, a key neurotransmitter in motivation and the sensation of pleasure. "Something interesting happens here: the brain responds not only to material rewards but also to information. In other words, learning or solving a mystery is intrinsically rewarding," says Morales.
Furthermore, fascination is not exhausted in immediate emotion. During periods of high curiosity, the hippocampus, a crucial structure for memory, is activated in coordination with the dopaminergic system. Morales recalls that various scientific studies have shown that this favors memory consolidation: "We clearly remember where we were when we saw the eclipse. The brain marks that moment as relevant."
These types of intense experiences can also be accompanied by bodily responses, such as chills or goosebumps, resulting from the interaction between the emotional system and the autonomic nervous system; the same processes that are triggered when listening to music or contemplating a work of art.
A fascination that not everyone experiences the same way
However, the expert clarifies that not all people feel this fascination with the same intensity. Neuroimaging studies show that certain individuals, due to the way their brain is organized, are less prone to experiencing these types of states.
In this context, Morales points out that, in situations such as depression or Parkinson's disease, where sensitivity to reward is usually diminished, the ability to feel interest or wonder may be reduced. This could be linked to alterations in the reward circuits (striatum) and in the emotional integration systems (nucleus accumbens).
In fact, the researcher indicates that people with a high need for cognitive closure, that is, with a preference for clear answers and a rejection of ambiguity, tend to experience less wonder. "An eclipse, with its ephemeral and unpredictable nature, could generate more discomfort than fascination in these individuals," he adds.
"Far from being a mere emotional luxury, fascination, as a trigger for curiosity, can be understood as an adaptive mechanism that pushes us to explore, learn, and understand our surroundings. From this perspective, an eclipse is not just a visual spectacle, but a stimulus that activates a system designed to turn surprise into knowledge," Morales concludes.