Neural representations of awe: Distinguishing common and distinct neural mechanisms

Awe is an emotional response to perceptually vast stimuli that transcend one’s current frames of reference. The psychological form and function of awe differ between two types: positive-awe, which arises from the beauty of nature, and threat-awe, which is inspired by natural disasters. However, little is known about the neural bases underlying these types of awe. Here, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated common and distinct neural responses to experiences of positive- and threat-awe, elicited by watching awe-inspiring videos. We found that both awe experiences deactivated the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG) compared to control conditions (positive-awe vs. amusement; threat-awe vs. fear). In addition, positive-awe was associated with increased functional connectivity between the MTG and the cingulate cortex and supramarginal gyrus (SMG), and threat-awe was associated with increased functional connectivity between the MTG and amygdala, as well as between the amygdala and SMG. These findings suggest that the neural mechanisms underlying the complex psychological processes of awe vary as a function of the type of awe. The implications of these results regarding our understanding of the neural basis of awe and the future directions of human social cognition research are discussed.