Instances of superhuman strength, often referred to as “hysterical strength”, have been reported in high-stress situations. These feats, such as a teenager lifting a car off a trapped neighbor or a mother fighting off a polar bear to protect her children, are believed to be fueled by adrenaline and the unlocking of bodily systems and muscle capacity that are typically only accessed in moments of extreme duress.
Studying Hysterical Strength
While these incidents are real, studying the phenomenon in a lab setting is challenging due to the potential danger to participants. Instead, neuroscientists build on what is known about the brain and body’s fight-or-flight response and the stress feedback mechanisms associated with it.
These response systems, which served our ancient ancestors in life-threatening situations, have evolved to be triggered in less extreme modern-day situations, such as receiving a troubling text message or facing the prospect of public speaking.
Understanding the Fight-or-Flight Response
Hysterical strength is a term used to describe feats of strength that greatly exceed what we would normally imagine a person being able to produce. This phenomenon may occur when individuals are in extreme danger or when intervening to protect another person in danger.
During such circumstances, complex brain structures, neurotransmitters, and specific bodily systems kick in to release a cascade of hormones, allowing greater access to muscle capacity and increased blood flow to the appendages and organs of the body most needed to respond to the emergency.
The Role of Hormones
Fight-or-flight responses originate in the amygdala, a complex brain structure that processes emotional experiences. When confronted by a stressor, it sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus, which acts as a command center for the autonomic nervous system.
When a stress response is activated, neurotransmitters are released from neurons throughout the body, signaling the adrenal glands to rapidly release the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline. These hormones increase heart rate and blood pressure, expand air passages, and trigger blood vessels to contract, redirecting blood toward major muscle groups.
Consequences of Extreme Stress
While extreme fight-or-flight stress responses can be beneficial for survival in emergencies, they can also have detrimental effects when experienced frequently or to greater degrees. Chronic stress associated with sustained, higher releases of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol can lead to high blood pressure, sleep disorders, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Furthermore, the extreme end of this stress response, such as what’s associated with hysterical strength, can lead to especially worrisome outcomes. The physiological cascades that lead to the expression of ‘hysterical strength’ remove safety limits and can thereby be extraordinarily dangerous.
FAQs
- What is hysterical strength? Hysterical strength is a term used to describe feats of strength that greatly exceed what we would normally imagine a person being able to produce. This phenomenon may occur when individuals are in extreme danger or when intervening to protect another person in danger.
- What triggers the fight-or-flight response? Fight-or-flight responses originate in the amygdala, a complex brain structure that processes emotional experiences. When confronted by a stressor, it sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus, which acts as a command center for the autonomic nervous system.
- What are the consequences of extreme stress? Chronic stress associated with sustained, higher releases of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol can lead to high blood pressure, sleep disorders, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Furthermore, the extreme end of this stress response, such as what’s associated with hysterical strength, can lead to especially worrisome outcomes.
