London: The ‘bloodcurdling’ sensation that you feel while watching horror movies may be real, suggests a new study that found such flicks can lead to an increase in the blood clotting protein.
The results from a study suggest that using the term ‘bloodcurdling’ to describe feeling extreme fear is justified, researchers said. The term dates back to medieval times and is based on the concept that fear or horror would ‘run the blood cold’ or ‘curdle’ (congeal) blood, but the validity of this theory has never been studied.
Researchers from Leiden University Medical Centre, set out to assess whether acute fear can curdle blood, which they say poses an important evolutionary benefit, by preparing the body for blood loss during life threatening situations.
