Why Do People Get Goosebumps?

Goosebumps, goosepimples, goose flesh…there are many words for the little bumps that form on your skin and many reasons why they form. Medically, they are called cutis anserine and they are a physiological phenomenon that has evolutionary significance. It was useful to our ancestors, but it's not much help to us.

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Speaking of ancestors, no one is 100% sure why they are called goosebumps. Many assume it's because when plucked, a goose leaves a bumpy flesh behind, but so do most birds. Additionally, numerous languages use the bird to describe the bumps; it's a mystery as to why goose is used in German, Italian, Russian, Polish and many other languages.

Goosebumps are caused by a contraction of miniature muscles called arrector pili muscles that are attached to each hair. The reflex of producing goose bumps is known as arasing, piloerection, or the pilomotor reflex. The contraction creates a shallow depression on the skin surface, causing the surrounding area to protrude (bump). The same contraction also causes the hair to stand up whenever the body feels cold. This adaption is useful for animals with thick hair. The rising hair expands the layer of air that serves as insulation to retain more heat. During the formation of goosebumps, the body is warmed from the muscle's tension in piloprection. In people this reaction is useless because we (well most of us) don't have a hair coat.

Goosebumps also signify an emotional response. For animals, the expanded hair makes them appear bigger when threatened in an attempt to scare off the threatening animal. People get goosebumps during emotional situations such as watching horror movies, listening to a song that brings back memories, or events such as winning in sports. This reaction is caused by a release of the stress hormone adrenaline. Adrenaline causes the contraction of skin muscles as well as tears, sweaty palms, racing heart, and trembling hands. Check out the video for more info.

In more recent news, a goosebump detector is being developed that could track such hair-raising moments in life. This could be used to detect a person's reaction to a new movie or online advertisement. It's made using a conductive polymer and a type of flexible silicon that is also biocompatible to create a postage stamp-sized sensor that could help monitor the physical and emotional states of consumers in real time. Not the noblest use of goosebumps, but it has potential.

So when a beautiful piece of music gives you chills or makes your hair stand on end, know that it's just your body's way of saying that something awesome is happening.