Why do I get goosebumps when I listen to music?

Music can send chills up some people's spines and give them goosebumps. According to new research, this could mean they experience more intense emotions. Goosebumps are actually part of our fight or flight response. It could be linked to our brains releasing dopamine, a reward hormone.

businessinsider.com - Goosebumps When Listening to Music Could Mean You're More Emotional

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Music can send chills up some people's spines and give them goosebumps.

According to new research, this could mean they experience more intense emotions.

Goosebumps are actually part of our fight or flight response.

It could be linked to our brains releasing dopamine, a reward hormone.

Some of us react more intensely to music than others. For some, listening to a certain track can send shivers down their spine, and goosebumps appear on their skin. According to a new study, published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, there's a deeper reason for this than some people simply appreciating music more than others. The researchers studied 20 students, half of which reported experiencing chills when listening to music. They used Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) — MRI scans which map out the brain — to examine the differences between the two groups. Those who reported chills had a denser volume of brain fibres that connect the sections that process auditory information and emotions. More fibres means you have more efficient processing between the two sections, explained Matthew Sachs, a co-author of the study from the University of Southern California. He also concluded that those with these stronger connections may feel more intense emotions generally, not just when they are listening to music. "Emotional reactions to aesthetic stimuli are intriguing experiences to humans as they are profoundly pleasurable and rewarding, yet highly individualized," the study says. "Finding the behavioral and neural differences between individuals who do and do not experience such reactions may help gain a better understanding of the reward circuitry and the evolutionary significance of aesthetics for humans."

Goosebumps are a fight or flight response

When you have intense emotions towards something, adrenaline is released and races through your body. According to Professor William Griffith, the head of neuroscience and experimental therapeutics at the Texas A&M College of Medicine, they are basically a product of our fight or flight response. This response is usually triggered when we are scared or feeling threatened, as adrenaline prepares our body to defend itself or run away. However, strong emotional reactions to other things, such as a passionate scene in a film or listening to your favourite song, can also cause us to have this reaction. The reasons for this are unclear, but one theory is that adrenaline release could be linked to a surge of dopamine, one hormone involved in the body's reward response. Another study, conducted by researchers at the University of York, found that music could help us manage our emotions. The team wanted to find out how listening to selected music pieces could elicit emotional responses and also be enjoyed by listeners at the same time.

They found that playing "sad" songs counter-intuitively could make people happier.

"One of the most important motivations to engage in music listening is its emotional effect on us," the team wrote on the York website. "Listeners often report that they listen to music to calm them down, to stimulate them, to bring them into a positive mood, or to experience emotions like melancholy or nostalgia. Therefore, listening to the sound of music is unique way to experience and engage with different contrasting emotions, helping us to understand and regulate our mood according to many different situations. This makes music an important part of our overall mental wellbeing."

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Is piano good for your hands?

Playing the piano will strengthen the joints and muscles in your hands. The dexterity involved in playing music on the piano keeps your hand muscles developed and avoids the weakening of small bones.

pianoinaflash.com - How playing piano can help with arthritis | Piano in a Flash Blog

Arthritis and piano: how it can be good for you

Posted at 10:39h in Cognitive, News in Clinician

Since I’ve seen this concern pop up now and again, I thought it would be best to address the issue through a quick blog post.

As we age, arthritis becomes a real concern. According to the Center for Disease Control, almost 50% of adults over the age of 65 have arthritis. Among other options, yoga and massage have been offered as “pain relievers,” but… have you ever thought of playing piano to ease the pain?

Playing the piano will strengthen the joints and muscles in your hands. The dexterity involved in playing music on the piano keeps your hand muscles developed and avoids the weakening of small bones. It is recommended to play gentle and simple songs if you are trying to relieve the pain, but regular movements achieved by playing the piano is a good way to keep your fingers active. As long as you’re not training to become a concert pianist and playing for hours upon hours each day, piano is a GREAT option to exercise your hand muscles and joints! I’ve also had a couple of students say that their focus on playing the songs was a distraction from some of the pain. Studies show that music does have an effect on pain, as it provides distraction and relaxation . Has your time at the piano helped with your arthritis? Send us a comment below!

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