Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Goosebumps
Nov 30, 2022
Explore the fascinating science behind goosebumps, a relic from our furry ancestors that responds to both temperature and emotion. Discover how live music can send chills down your spine, with studies comparing emotional reactions to different songs. Dive into the interplay between our emotional brain and music, revealing how rhythm and melody can elicit powerful physical responses. Uncover the intricate relationship between artistic experiences and our emotional states that lead to those unforgettable goosebump moments.
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Evolutionary Purpose of Goosebumps
- Goosebumps, or piloerection, are an evolutionary leftover from when humans had more hair.
- They served to keep us warm and make us appear larger to predators.
Unique Nervous System Response
- Goosebumps are a sympathetic nervous system response, typically involuntary.
- Uniquely, they can sometimes be consciously controlled by certain individuals.
Music and Goosebumps Study
- A study used music to evoke goosebumps, or "subjective chills."
- Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" achieved a 14% goosebump rate, while Prince's "Purple Rain" reached 50%.