50% of People Get Goosebumps from Music

Listening to music can evoke strong emotions, and for about 50% of people, it can even cause physical sensations such as goosebumps. This phenomenon is known as frisson, a term used to describe the feeling of getting chills or goosebumps while listening to music.

According to a 2016 study, frisson is a common experience, with about 50% of people reporting sensations such as shivers, a lump in the throat, and goosebumps while listening to music. But what causes this reaction? Research by Radbound University has shed some light on the brain's response to music that triggers frisson.

The brain's fight-or-flight response is activated when music defies expectations, causing goosebumps. This can happen when a song features an unexpected harmony, a key change, a soaring vocal, a new instrument, or a crescendo. The brain briefly interprets the surprise as a possible threat, triggering the nervous system's fight-or-flight response.

However, once the brain realizes there is no actual danger from the music, it releases dopamine, causing a feeling of pleasure. This combination of surprise, tension, and pleasure can create a powerful emotional response, resulting in goosebumps.

Unfamiliar music can also create a combination of surprise, tension, and pleasure, causing musical chills. Even if a person is listening to a song for the first time, the brain's attempt to predict the music's progression can be disrupted by unexpected elements, triggering frisson.

## Why it matters The phenomenon of frisson highlights the complex relationship between music, emotions, and the brain. It shows that music has the power to evoke strong emotional responses, and that the brain's response to music is closely tied to its ability to predict and respond to unexpected events. For music lovers, understanding frisson can provide a deeper appreciation for the emotional impact of music and the ways in which it can affect our bodies and minds.