Goosebumps: the chilling science behind it

Science is everywhere- from DNA to Dragons, from proteins to pythons! Let’s dive into the science behind a fairly common body reaction- goosebumps.

Goosebumps: What are they?

Imagine that strange feeling when you’re out in the freezing cold, or you’re at a concert and your favorite song starts to play.

Suddenly, tiny hairs on your skin stand up.

That tingling sensation is called goosebumps.

Goosebumps: How do they happen?

Goosebumps is a common bodily response to cold climate, extreme emotions or fear. Your brain senses these inputs and sends a signal to the arrector pili. It is a tiny elastic muscle underneath your skin. This tiny strip connects the base of hair follicle to the upper layer of your skin.

When the hypothalamus of your brain signals the arrector pili muscle, they start to contract, making your skin hair stand up. The signal is nothing but the familiar fight or flight response.

Goosebumps: when do they happen?

The may occur under various circumstances-

1. Freezing conditions- when it is extremely cold, you may experience goosebumps which may act as a tiny thermal shield from your body. It gives you heat and protects it from the cold.
   
2. Love- your body reacts as if it is facing something powerful or overwhelming. This reaction is part of your autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary responses.
   
3. When you hear your favorite song- a heartfelt song may make you emotional and put your body under fight or flight mode. There is a special term for this- frisson.
   
4. Fear or danger- this gives you the adrenaline rush and give you goosebumps.
   

Goosebumps: why do we even get them?

This bodily reaction, in furred animals like cats help them in two ways:

1. Thicker fur- to keep them warm
2. Look bigger- to help protect from predators
   

But, we do not have thick fur like cats. So, it does not give us a survival advantage. We inherited the reaction, but just not the fur. So, goosebumps is a vestigial body reaction.

So the next time you feel goosebumps rise on your skin: whether it’s a cold breeze, a love song, or a spooky scene, just remember, it is your body echoing an ancient survival trick. A tiny, involuntary reminder that we are still wired like our wild ancestors, even in a modern world.

If you love watching videos, check out a video on YouTube from itsbiodiaries.

Science really is everywhere, even in the smallest chills.

Stay curious, Stay happy