The Mathematics of Fear – A Halloween Eve

Fear can be modelled mathematically: the amygdala’s response follows a threshold model (sigmoid function). The spread of fear through a population is like an epidemic (SIR model). Horror films use the ‘violation of expectation’ – information theory again. The probability of a jump scare at a given moment can be optimised. The mathematics of suspense: increasing uncertainty (Shannon entropy) creates tension. Even fear has a formula. Halloween is a day for exploring the edges of probability and perception.