Advertisements
The goosebumps phenomenon, also known as piloerection, is one of the many automatic reactions of the human body to external stimuli.
Whether it's a sudden change in temperature, intense emotion, or a fearful situation, this natural response occurs when the hairs on your body stand on end.
But why does this happen? To understand why our hairs stand on end, we need to explore both the physiology of the human body and the evolution of our ancestors.
Advertisements
Evolution and Goosebumps
To understand the reason behind the goosebumps, it is necessary to revisit humanity's evolutionary past.
Our ancestors, like many animals today, were much hairier than we are today.
These hairs played crucial roles in survival, both regulating body temperature and protecting against external threats.
When an animal covered in fur, such as a monkey or a cat, feels cold, its fur stands on end.
Advertisements
This movement is caused by the contraction of the arrector pili muscles, which are small smooth muscles located at the base of each hair follicle.
When these muscles contract, the hairs stand up, creating a layer of air between them and the skin.
This layer of air acts as a thermal insulator, helping to retain heat and keeping the animal warm.
In addition to helping regulate temperature, goosebumps also served another purpose: intimidation.
In threatening situations, when an animal feels cornered or in danger, the raised hairs make it appear larger than it actually is.
This increase in appearance can intimidate potential predators or rivals, increasing the chances of survival.
The Goosebumps in Modern Humans
Although humanity has lost much of its hairy covering throughout the evolutionary process, the mechanisms responsible for goosebumps still remain.
When we feel cold, the body tries to warm itself by raising the few hairs we have left, although the effect is minimal in terms of heat retention.
Similarly, when we are scared or in a stressful situation, our hairs can stand on end, activating a response that our ancestors used to appear larger and more threatening.
This phenomenon, although it has lost much of its original function, is still an automatic response mediated by the autonomic nervous system.
This system is responsible for controlling several involuntary functions of the body, such as heart rate, digestion and, of course, piloerection.
The Physiology Behind Goosebumps
The physiological process that leads to goosebumps begins in the autonomic nervous system, more specifically in the part that controls the body's involuntary responses.
When the body is exposed to a stimulus, such as cold or fear, the nervous system sends a signal to the arrector pili muscles to contract.
This contraction causes the hairs to stand up.
The main chemical involved in this process is adrenaline, a hormone released by the body in response to stressful situations.
Adrenaline is famous for preparing the body for the “fight or flight” response, increasing the heart rate, dilating the pupils and, among other things, causing piloerection.
When we feel fear or are in a dangerous situation, the release of adrenaline is mainly responsible for the goosebumps we feel.
Goosebumps Beyond Fear and Cold
Although cold and fear are the most common causes of goosebumps, they are not the only triggers.
Many people experience goosebumps during moments of intense emotion, such as when listening to a particularly moving piece of music, watching a powerful scene in a movie, or even experiencing a moment of inspiration.
This specific type of goosebumps is known as frisson, a French word meaning “chill.”
Thrill is related to the brain's reward system, which is activated when we experience something that touches us deeply.
Studies suggest that the thrill occurs due to a release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.
Frisson, therefore, can be seen as a form of intense emotional response, where the body physically manifests the emotional impact of the stimulus.
The Meaning of Goosebumps Today
Today, goosebumps no longer play a crucial role in our survival, as they did for our ancestors.
Yet they remain an intriguing part of the human experience, reminding us of our evolutionary history and how our bodies still carry traces of ancient mechanisms.
These evolutionary remnants continue to influence our reactions in various situations, whether when facing the cold, fear, or when being touched by a work of art.
Ultimately, goosebumps are a fascinating example of how the human body is shaped by its history, carrying with it traces of a past that are still reflected in our everyday experiences.
Even if goosebumps no longer help us survive today, they remain a window into our evolutionary past and a reminder of how deeply intertwined our emotions and physical reactions are.
