US rock climber Alex Honnold made headlines again with his daring ascent of Taipei 101 on January 25, 2026. He climbed this iconic skyscraper without ropes or safety gear, reaching the top in just an hour and 31 minutes. The climb was streamed live on Netflix, and Honnold celebrated his success by waving to the crowd from the summit.
After the climb, he described the view as “amazing,” despite the strong winds. Honnold is known for tackling some of the world’s most challenging climbs, including enormous cliffs in Greenland that stand three times taller than the Empire State Building.
What drives someone like Honnold to take such extreme risks? Neuroscientist Jane Joseph conducted an experiment to explore this question. She used fMRI scans to study the brains of high sensation seekers, including Honnold. The results were surprising. When exposed to typical fear-triggering images, Honnold’s amygdala, the part of the brain that processes fear, showed little activity. This indicates he doesn’t react to fear in the same way most people do.
In fact, when offered a chance to earn money during the test, his brain showed minimal activity in response to potential rewards too. While most people’s brains light up with excitement at rewards, Honnold’s scans revealed a “lifeless” amygdala. He remarked, “There’s just not much going on in my brain. It just doesn’t do anything.”
Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist and brain imaging expert, offers insight into what might be happening in extreme athletes’ brains. He notes that these individuals often have lower activity in their prefrontal cortex, which affects impulse control and risk evaluation. In contrast, their reward pathways are highly active. This means that high-stimulation activities feel normal to them, while situations that terrify most people don’t elicit the same strong fear response.
“Their brains are less easily ‘scared’ and more driven by challenge and novelty,” Amen explains. He also notes that top extreme performers, like Honnold, excel in controlling their focus and emotions under stress. They perform best when their fear circuits activate just enough to heighten awareness without overwhelming them.
A study of nearly 300,000 brain scans at Amen Clinics supports this idea, indicating that elite performers maintain a more organized and engaged prefrontal cortex in high-stress situations. This allows them to make better decisions and remain calm, as their brains enter a “flow state.” While most people might panic under pressure, extreme athletes can keep their cool and focus on the task at hand.
This unique brain function leads to a significant difference in how they perceive risks. For average individuals, heightened adrenaline levels can disrupt judgment. In contrast, for climbers like Honnold, it sharpens their attention.
Many people express mixed feelings about Honnold’s climbs, often in awe of his bravery yet concerned about the risks involved. Social media trends often highlight debates about the ethics of high-risk sports, with some praising his achievements while others warn against reckless behavior.
In a world where thrill-seeking can sometimes be misunderstood as danger, Honnold’s climbs point to a fascinating intersection of human capability and brain function. They challenge our understanding of fear, excitement, and performance.
For more insights on brain behavior in extreme athletes, you can check detailed studies at Amen Clinics.
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