Surprise (emotion)

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/surprise-emotion

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the core function?Rapid attentional reorientation to unexpected stimuli
2. What is the neurobiological correlates?Involves amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and neurotransmitter systems
3. What is surprise?Surprise is a quick feeling that happens when something unexpected pops up. It makes your body jump, your eyes widen, and you look around fast.
4. Why does surprise happen so fast?Surprise is a quick reaction that helps us notice new or surprising things right away. It lets us decide if something is safe or interesting before we act.

Cognitive Processes: Mental activities such as thinking, learning, and remembering.
Neurobiological Pathways: The routes and interactions of nerve cells in the brain.
Salient: Noticeable or important; standing out.
Valence: The inherent attractiveness or aversiveness of an event or object.