Kitchener-Waterloo·Audio

Inside the brain of a horror movie superfan

University of Waterloo professor James Danckert thought he knew what to expect when he used magnetic imaging to peer inside the head of horror movie superfan Tal Zimerman. What Danckert's scans discovered however, might surprise you.

University of Waterloo prof uses MRI to map brain activity during gory scenes

Scenes of blood and gore in Hollywood horror movies are designed to make you squirm, but why do some of us keep coming back for more? A University of Waterloo professor recently used an MRI machine on a horror movie aficionado to see why he keeps watching. (Khakimullin Aleksandr/Shutterstock) (Shutterstock / Khakimullin Aleksandr)

University of Waterloo professor James Danckert thought he knew what to expect when he used magnetic imaging to peer inside the head of horror movie superfan Tal Zimerman. What Danckert's scans discovered however, might surprise you. 

Click to the left to listen to James Danckert explain his findings to The Morning Edition host Craig Norris.