The Science of Awe: How Wonder Can Transform Your Nervous System

 Have you ever stood at the edge of a view point, listened to a piece of music that gave you goosebumps, or gazed up at a star-filled sky and felt something profound stir within you? That sensation—a mixture of wonder, mobilisation, and a touch of reverence—is awe. And this powerful emotion might be one of our most under-utilised tools for managing anxiety.

The Neurophysiology of Awe vs. Anxiety

Anxiety often feels like a runaway train of nervous system activation—racing heart, shallow breathing, clammy palms, and a mind fixated on potential threats. But what if there was a state that could harness the energy of activation while simultaneously keeping you grounded in safety?

That's exactly what awe does.

Awe represents a unique blend of two nervous system states:

• It activates enough of your sympathetic nervous system to increase energy and awareness
• While simultaneously engaging ventral vagal regulation to bring feelings of safety and connection

Unlike anxiety, which occurs when the vagus nerve's "brake" isn't properly down-regulating mobilising energy, awe teaches your system to contain activation without spiralling into fight-or-flight.

How Anxiety Hijacks Your Body

Anxiety is associated with heightened sensitivity to bodily sensations—that racing heart, butterflies in your stomach, or clammy palms. How you notice these signals is called interoception, your internal body awareness system.

The problem occurs when there's a cognitive appraisal of these normal sensations as dangerous, making your nervous system overprotective and vigilant. This creates a feedback loop: sensation → fear → more sensation → more fear.

How Awe Recalibrates Your System

When you move into a state of awe, your brain-body system learns to develop greater capacity for sustained attention to bodily sensations without shifting into anxiety.

This unique neurophysiological space allows you to:

• Stretch your nervous system's capacity for handling challenges and mobilising energy
• Process complex emotional experiences without becoming overwhelmed
• Apply the "vagal brake" and down-regulate your nervous system

Unlike anxiety, which narrows your focus and triggers defensive reactions, awe broadens your perspective, expands your sense of self, and opens you to new possibilities.

And unlike simple relaxation techniques, awe creates a powerful blend of activation and regulation. This combination is particularly effective at strengthening vagal tone in a way that makes your nervous system more flexible and adaptable to future stressors.

The Physical Experience of Awe

Have you noticed goosebumps on your arms or "chills" running down your spine during profound moments? This response has biological roots in your sympathetic nervous system.

When we encounter something truly awe-inspiring, our bodies release neurotransmitters that cause the tiny muscles at the base of each hair follicle to contract, creating those physical signs of being moved.

Awe as Nervous System Training

Research shows that awe enhances interoceptive awareness regions in the brain, improving your ability to recognise and regulate internal bodily states (Immordino-Yang et al., 2012).

It recalibrates important brain networks, helping shift your attention away from potential threats toward connection and wonder.

Cultivating Awe in Daily Life

What if instead of asking "how do I reduce stress and anxiety," you asked yourself "how can I make my nervous system 'fitter' so I can contain more mobilisation?"

Awe can be the training ground for accurately reading sensations and bodily signals. Practiced regularly, this "training effect" builds lasting vagal tone and nervous system resilience.

Reflecting on Awe

Take a moment to consider:

• When was the last time you felt truly awe-struck?
• When did you last witness something much larger than yourself?
• How did this experience change your perspective on your current challenges?
• What pieces of music, art, or literature have moved you to awe?

By intentionally seeking and savouring awe-inspiring experiences, you're not just experiencing momentary wonder—you're actively training your nervous system to be more resilient, flexible, and capable of containing activation without tipping into anxiety.

In a world obsessed with managing stress, perhaps what we need most is to expand our capacity for awe.