Surprisingly, humans recognize joyful screams faster than fearful screams

It’s a twist to a long-held idea that our brains are wired to quickly detect threats first

crowd of people screaming with joy

Unlike most other mammals, humans can distinguish between different types of screams. We respond more quickly to screams of joy — illustrated here by fans at a sporting event — than fear, a new study suggests.

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Screams of joy appear to be easier for our brains to comprehend than screams of fear, a new study suggests.