Health and Me

Tanya Dutt

Goosebumps Aren’t Just About Cold, Then What Are They?

They're known by many names—goose pimples, <span>goosebumps</span>, or even cutis anserine, which is what doctors call them—but the effect is always the same: small bumps on your skin when you're cold, emotional, or even frightened. They might be small, but goosebumps are a fascinating leftover from our ancient history, a biological response that binds us to the animal kingdom in more than one way. But why do they happen, and are they useful for anything? Let's explore the science behind goosebumps.

Each and every hair in your body is connected to it an infinitesimally small muscle called the arrector pili. Activating theses muscles tightens them up and lifts the associated hair perpendicularly out from the hair shaft, in turn causing minute bulges overlying the attached hairs. Activation is caused through stimulation of nerves activated by these special muscles leading ultimately to release by the brain controlling the system. 

The nerves surrounding the arrector pili send electrical messages that instruct these muscles to tense up. The process is not voluntary, and you can't decide when the goosebumps will occur. But what's behind this action?

The most typical cause of goosebumps is cold exposure. When the body senses a decrease in temperature, the sympathetic nervous system is triggered, making the arrector pili muscles contract. This will lift body hair, which, in thick-furred animals, traps a layer of warm air. In humans, though, our fairly thin body hair makes this purpose largely ineffective.

<h4>Fear and the Fight-or-Flight Response</h4>

Ever felt your hair stand on end when you hear something creepy in the dark? That's your fight-or-flight response activating. When we sense danger, the body releases a hormone called adrenaline, getting us ready for action. In animals, this makes them look bigger and more formidable to predators. Humans don't have sufficient body hair for this to work, but the physiological reaction is still there.

<h4>Emotional and Aesthetic Triggers</h4>

Goosebumps are not just reserved for fear or cold; they also happen when we feel strong emotions. Whether it is listening to a moving piece of music, seeing a moving moment, or feeling intense nostalgia, goosebumps tend to follow intense emotional experiences. This response is believed to be associated with the reward system of the brain, releasing dopamine when we feel something intensely moving.

Another less familiar cause of goosebumps is sexual excitement. Like the physical responses of blushing or increased heart rate, goosebumps can occur as a reaction to increased emotional or physical stimulation. This once again relates to the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary body responses.

<h2>Are Goosebumps an Evolutionary Leftover or Still Functional?</h2>

For animals, the advantage of piloerection is obvious—it prevents body heat from escaping and is a defense mechanism against predators. But for us, goosebumps are a vestigial trait, much like the tailbone or wisdom teeth. Without fur, do goosebumps have any functional purpose now?

Surprisingly, new studies indicate that goosebumps might be involved in hair growth. A study in the journal Cell discovered that nerves that cause goosebumps are entangled with hair follicle stem cells. When these nerves stimulate the arrector pili muscles, they also stimulate hair follicle stem cells, which could encourage hair regeneration. Although this process is more applicable in hairy animals, it presents interesting possibilities for hair growth therapies in humans.

<h2>Is There A Reason Why You Should You Be Worried?</h2>

Goosebumps are usually harmless in most cases. But in some rare cases, they can be indicative of underlying medical conditions, which include:

<strong>Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: </strong>Certain seizures can cause a condition called piloerection seizures, which cause repeated episodes of goosebumps.

<strong>Autonomic Nervous System Disorders: </strong>Certain disorders of the autonomic nervous system can lead to abnormal goosebump reactions.

<strong>Opiate Withdrawal: </strong>Goosebumps are frequent in heroin or opioid withdrawal, leading to the expression "quitting cold turkey," as the bumps have the appearance of a plucked turkey.

If you observe too much or chronic goosebumps without a clear cause, it might be a good idea to see a medical professional.

Since goosebumps no longer play a meaningful survival role for humans, it's possible that they might slowly disappear over the course of evolutionary time, as other vestigial characteristics have. But with new evidence connecting goosebumps to hair growth, they could be more important than we originally thought.

Health Conditions A-Z

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goosebumps

goosebumps causes

why do we get goosebumps

goosebumps science

piloerection meaning

goosebumps and emotions

nervous system response

hair follicle stimulation

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They're known by many names—goose pimples, goosebumps, or even cutis anserine, which is what doctors call them—but the effect is always the same: small bumps on your skin when you're cold, emotional, or even frightened. They might be small, but goosebumps are a fascinating leftover from our ancient history, a biological response that binds us to the animal kingdom in more than one way. But why do they happen, and are they useful for anything? Let's explore the science behind goosebumps.Each and every hair in your body is connected to it an infinitesimally small muscle called the arrector pili. Activating theses muscles tightens them up and lifts the associated hair perpendicularly out from the hair shaft, in turn causing minute bulges overlying the attached hairs. Activation is caused through stimulation of nerves activated by these special muscles leading ultimately to release by the brain controlling the system. The nerves surrounding the arrector pili send electrical messages that instruct these muscles to tense up. The process is not voluntary, and you can't decide when the goosebumps will occur. But what's behind this action?Why We Get Goosebumps?A Chilling Reaction to ColdThe most typical cause of goosebumps is cold exposure. When the body senses a decrease in temperature, the sympathetic nervous system is triggered, making the arrector pili muscles contract. This will lift body hair, which, in thick-furred animals, traps a layer of warm air. In humans, though, our fairly thin body hair makes this purpose largely ineffective.Fear and the Fight-or-Flight ResponseEver felt your hair stand on end when you hear something creepy in the dark? That's your fight-or-flight response activating. When we sense danger, the body releases a hormone called adrenaline, getting us ready for action. In animals, this makes them look bigger and more formidable to predators. Humans don't have sufficient body hair for this to work, but the physiological reaction is still there.Emotional and Aesthetic TriggersGoosebumps are not just reserved for fear or cold; they also happen when we feel strong emotions. Whether it is listening to a moving piece of music, seeing a moving moment, or feeling intense nostalgia, goosebumps tend to follow intense emotional experiences. This response is believed to be associated with the reward system of the brain, releasing dopamine when we feel something intensely moving.Sexual Arousal and ExcitementAnother less familiar cause of goosebumps is sexual excitement. Like the physical responses of blushing or increased heart rate, goosebumps can occur as a reaction to increased emotional or physical stimulation. This once again relates to the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary body responses.Are Goosebumps an Evolutionary Leftover or Still Functional?For animals, the advantage of piloerection is obvious—it prevents body heat from escaping and is a defense mechanism against predators. But for us, goosebumps are a vestigial trait, much like the tailbone or wisdom teeth. Without fur, do goosebumps have any functional purpose now?Surprisingly, new studies indicate that goosebumps might be involved in hair growth. A study in the journal Cell discovered that nerves that cause goosebumps are entangled with hair follicle stem cells. When these nerves stimulate the arrector pili muscles, they also stimulate hair follicle stem cells, which could encourage hair regeneration. Although this process is more applicable in hairy animals, it presents interesting possibilities for hair growth therapies in humans.Is There A Reason Why You Should You Be Worried?Goosebumps are usually harmless in most cases. But in some rare cases, they can be indicative of underlying medical conditions, which include:Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Certain seizures can cause a condition called piloerection seizures, which cause repeated episodes of goosebumps.Autonomic Nervous System Disorders: Certain disorders of the autonomic nervous system can lead to abnormal goosebump reactions.Opiate Withdrawal: Goosebumps are frequent in heroin or opioid withdrawal, leading to the expression "quitting cold turkey," as the bumps have the appearance of a plucked turkey.If you observe too much or chronic goosebumps without a clear cause, it might be a good idea to see a medical professional.Since goosebumps no longer play a meaningful survival role for humans, it's possible that they might slowly disappear over the course of evolutionary time, as other vestigial characteristics have. But with new evidence connecting goosebumps to hair growth, they could be more important than we originally thought.