Uploaded October 2018 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

---

We are drawn to things that scare us, but so many of us can’t watch scary movies or are afraid of the dark. Our brains are built to fill in the gaps of the unknown, which allows us to create the biggest, scariest monster in our own minds. In this episode, Washington University neurosurgeons at Barnes-Jewish Hospital describe how our brains process fear and why it’s important to our survival instincts.

For a full list of video podcasts, visit: barnesjewish.org/The-Brain-Coffee-Podcast.

Subscribe to the Barnes-Jewish Hospital YouTube Channel: youtube.com/user/BarnesJewishHospital

Connect with Barnes-Jewish Hospital:
- Facebook: facebook.com/barnesjewishhospital
- Twitter: twitter.com/Barnesjewish