Studies Show: For The Most Emotional Experience, Download the Audible Book

Have you ever lost yourself so completely in an audiobook that you forgot where you were and what you were doing? While you were listening, did you picture the characters so vividly that you’d recognize them immediately if you saw them on the street? Did you gasp while listening to the Red Wedding in A Game of Thrones or tear up when Mr. Darcy declared his love for Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice?

You’re not alone, and now we know why—thanks to science!

Audible teamed up with University College London to study the impact of listening and found that your body reacts differently to audio than it does to watching TV or a movie. Your emotions are heightened and your brain is more engaged, and physical responses—like fluctuations in heart rate and body temperature—are more pronounced.

The study captured the responses of more than 100 participants, aged 18 to 67, listening to key scenes from great works of literature, as well as watching the same moments in acclaimed TV or film adaptations. Study participants watched and listened to emotional scenes from A Game of Thrones, The Girl on the Train, Pride and Prejudice, The Silence of the Lambs, Great Expectations, The Da Vinci Code, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and Alien.

The results of the study were clear. The scientists found with 99% certainty that listening produced a stronger emotional and physiological response than watching. The findings were consistent across all ages and demographics. Another interesting finding was that the moments of increased engagement happened at more predictable intervals in the audio results, suggesting that authors and narrators might have greater control over the emotional responses of their audiences than filmmakers.

So next time you find yourself so emotionally invested in a story you lose track of the world around you, don’t worry. It’s not you; it’s science, combined with great storytelling and nuanced performances that bring them to life.