Neuroscientists have discovered that the amygdala (which is involved in sensing emotion and fear) kicks into action when volunteers listen to scary music with eyes closed. Shutting your eyes, it seems, only makes it worse. Keeping your eyes open, or merely listening to scary music in the dark, does not produce the same effect.
I find it interesting that it is the willing act of closing your eyes that accentuates the fear, and not absolute darkness or the visual stimulation.
Any thoughts on potential inborn psychology behind that? With our monkey brains, I mean?