Why do you get chills when listening to music1 min readReading Time: < 1 minutes
There’s nothing quite like the experience of getting chills down your spine when listening to your favorite piece of music. But what is it that causes this reaction?
Chills are caused by a release of dopamine, a hormone that is associated with pleasure. When we hear something that we enjoy, our brain sends a signal to the rest of our body telling our muscles to release dopamine. This dopamine release can cause a physical reaction, such as chills, goosebumps, or a racing heart.
There are a number of things that can influence how much dopamine is released in response to music. One factor is how emotionally connected we are to the music. The more emotionally connected we are, the more dopamine is released. In addition, the type of music can affect how much dopamine is released. Music that is intense, sad, or suspenseful can cause a greater dopamine release than music that is happy or relaxing.
So why do we enjoy the experience of getting chills when listening to music? There’s no definitive answer, but it seems to be a combination of the pleasure we experience from the dopamine release and the emotional connection we have to the music. So next time you hear your favorite song, enjoy the chills as a sign that you’re really enjoying the music!