Music has a profound impact on our emotions. It can move us to tears, give us energy, calm our nerves, and even give us chills. This phenomenon, colloquially known as the "skin orgasm," is a fascinating glimpse into the emotional power of music and its effect on our physiology. But why does this happen? To answer this question, we must delve into the realms of neuroscience, psychology, and even evolutionary biology.
The sensation of chills, or "frisson," as it is referred to in the scientific community, is characterized by a shivering sensation, often accompanied by goosebumps. Not everyone experiences frisson, and those who do don't always experience it for the same reasons. However, music is one of the most common triggers.
Neuroscientifically speaking, frisson is thought to occur as a result of the brain's reaction to unexpected stimuli in the music, such as sudden changes in volume, pitch, or harmony. As we listen to a piece of music, our brains continuously predict how the music will unfold based on what we've already heard. When there's a sudden change in the music that our brains didn't expect, the resulting emotional reaction can be strong enough to produce physical chills.
The act of listening to music activates several areas of the brain. This includes the auditory cortex that processes sound, the hippocampus associated with memory and emotion, and the amygdala, which is central to processing emotion. It also involves the neurotransmitter dopamine, often associated with pleasure and reward. When we listen to music, dopamine is released in two stages: anticipation and fulfillment. The anticipation stage occurs when we predict what notes or melodies will come next. The fulfillment stage happens when our predictions are correct, or when the music pleasantly surprises us. This dual-phase release of dopamine, particularly in the second phase, has been suggested as a potential reason for the chills we sometimes get from music.
While the neuroscience behind music-induced chills is relatively well-understood, the evolutionary reason for such a response is less clear. Some suggest that it may be related to the social bonding effects of music. Throughout human history, music has been a communal activity, used in everything from religious rituals to celebrations and gatherings. It has a unique power to synchronize people's emotions and create a shared experience, which could have been beneficial for social cohesion and survival in early human societies.
The physical reactions associated with frisson, such as goosebumps and shivers, could also be vestiges from our evolutionary past. For example, the piloerection (goosebumps) that often accompanies music-induced chills is also a common response in animals when they are threatened or excited. In these situations, piloerection can make an animal appear larger and more intimidating, or help regulate body temperature in response to fear or excitement.
The chills we sometimes get from music, the so-called 'skin orgasm,' is a fascinating phenomenon that illustrates the profound emotional power of music.
This unique human response to music is not just a simple emotional reaction but involves complex neurobiological mechanisms and may even be connected to our evolutionary past. Understanding this phenomenon better can not only enrich our understanding of human emotion and cognition but can also enhance our appreciation of the transformative power of music.
