# A "shivering" sensation when listening to music

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-shivering-sensation-when-listening-to-music/511378>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 24, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-shivering-sensation-when-listening-to-music/511378 "2009-09-24T15:42:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-shivering-sensation-when-listening-to-music/511378/21 "2009-09-29T21:17:35Z")

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It seems to happen to me particularly when I hear bagpipes. I know it probably sounds wacky, but I do often get this seemingly involuntary emotional/neurological response, like a chill up the spine, goosebumps, maybe eyes tearing a little. ('Course add a little booze and I’m a sobbing mess!). Always thought it had something to do with sound frequency vibrations kind of resonating/interacting with neurotransmitters creating an emotional response, in ways I’m clearly not qualified to explain :smack:! Maybe someone else can do a better job.

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**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-shivering-sensation-when-listening-to-music/511378/22 "2009-09-29T23:19:10Z")

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> [@mo50](#):
>
> It seems to happen to me particularly when I hear bagpipes. I know it probably sounds wacky, but I do often get this seemingly involuntary emotional/neurological response, like a chill up the spine, goosebumps, maybe eyes tearing a little.

But it makes perfect sense You hear bagpipes. Autonomic response: FEAR! (Slower) conscious response: No attacking highlanders! Overall effect: tingle and shiver. 🙂

Seriously though, I was going to mention almost exactly the same thing. Hear the skirl of the pipes and get shivers and chills. Seems to be wired into me.

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**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-shivering-sensation-when-listening-to-music/511378/23 "2009-09-29T23:30:19Z")

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> [@Uncertain](#):
>
> Sigh. Why do people post something like that, seemingly reflexively, whenever the evolution of some trait is discussed?
> 
> As it happens, I’m an evolutionary biologist. A biologist would not respond to my point that way. But, hey, perhaps we can all pick up some tips about how evolution _reallly_ works from the Straight Dope message board.
> 
> You buy Huron’s evolutionary story about why we respond to fear with shivering (if that’s what he’s saying), but you dismiss my suggestion that selection would lead to piloerection without shivering? You’re welcome to your opinion.

I admit, I’m nothing like a biologist, but I don’t really see how not shivering in response to fear improves the odds of passing on your genetic material.

Also, presuming that selection would breed this out, I don’t see why it would necessarily have already happened.

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**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-shivering-sensation-when-listening-to-music/511378/24 "2009-09-30T00:38:17Z")

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Nevermind the question of when was the last time you got into a barfight and the big muscled dude’s hair started to stand on end? Just because cats do it doesn’t mean it applies to everyone. Humans display confidence and readiness to fight by standing taller, raising their shoulders, etc, but not with trim little afros. Oh, and, standing confident and tall is the _opposite_ of being afraid.

> [@](#):
>
> I don’t really see how not shivering in response to fear improves the odds of passing on your genetic material.

Oh, sure, having uncontrolled muscle spasms is just wonderful. Ever wonder why you only shiver when you’re _very_ cold?

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