# What Causes The Inexplicable Shudder? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 4, 2006, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144 "2006-07-04T06:36:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/1 "2006-07-04T06:36:18Z")
You know those- just out of the blue for no reason a strong shudder will go through your body. You’re not cold, you didn’t hear a noise like nails on a blackboard, or see anything scary. It’s said it happens when someone walks across your grave, but I plan on being cremated, so I’m pretty sure that’s not true. 😉 Does anyone know what causes this? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/2 "2006-07-04T07:01:21Z")
One thing that causes it is tension. Some people experience less shudders if they learn how to do relaxation exercises. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/3 "2006-07-04T07:45:07Z")
If I’m in a warm, relaxed setting I’m more apt to experience them. I can sometimes do it on command by stretching and curling my body, especially when I’m sleepy and in a comfy bed. Potentially TMI ahead… It’s a delicious wave of tingliness that goes up and down my spine – it feels very similar to the ‘waves’ from an orgasm, although weaker, so I personally rather enjoy them. Am I a friggin’ weirdo or can anyone else relate? The human body is a strange machine. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/4 "2006-07-04T11:57:19Z")
I am a freelance scientist, and it is technically known as a judder. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/5 "2006-07-04T12:02:27Z")
> [@Peter Morris](#): > > I am a freelance scientist, and it is technically known as a judder. What does a freelance scientist do? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/6 "2006-07-04T12:03:55Z")
(Nice one **PM**.) Also occasionally occurs after 60% of gentlemen’s urination, and is known as “piss shiver”. ---
**Author:** ![Carlyjay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Carlyjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carlyjay)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/7 "2006-07-04T12:44:09Z")
Not just gentlemen’s, jjimm. 🙂 And I believe a freelance scientist performs random acts of science, all willy-nilly. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/8 "2006-07-04T12:53:34Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > (Nice one **PM**.) > > Also occasionally occurs after 60% of gentlemen’s urination, and is known as “piss shiver”. I beg your pardon. I believe you refer to [post-micturition convulsion syndrome](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_225.html). ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/9 "2006-07-04T13:06:53Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I beg your pardon. I believe you refer to [post-micturition convulsion syndrome](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_225.html). Ah yes. I… er… didn’t want to blind people with science. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/10 "2006-07-04T13:25:49Z")
I’ve always called it “pigeon shivers”. I don’t know where I heard that. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/11 "2006-07-04T15:12:56Z")
Loss of body heat for some reason or other ---
**Author:** ![Psilocybe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@Psilocybe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psilocybe)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/12 "2006-07-04T16:00:23Z")
My girlfriends shivers a lot. They occur randomly, appearantly, but I can bring one about if I slowly stroke her hair for instance. She has maybe five a day or more. Shes thinks its a form of epilepsy but I dont know. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/13 "2006-07-04T23:34:18Z")
I’ve heard it’s a symptom of Dope overdose. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/14 "2006-07-04T23:48:30Z")
No, I’ve had these long before I had the Dope. I’m willing to believe it’s a function of the central nervous system to discharge tension, as engineer\_comp\_geek suggests. It does seem to fit with the way my CNS works. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/15 "2006-07-05T01:55:19Z")
Um, excuse me. You’re all wrong. It’s a goose walking over your grave. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/16 "2006-07-05T01:57:30Z")
Savannah posted smugly, then re-readed the opening post, her face sinking into a chagrined expression. She quietly rose, and slunk from the room. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/17 "2006-07-05T01:57:39Z")
Savannah posted smugly, then re-read the opening post, her face sinking into a chagrined expression. She quietly rose, and slunk from the room. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2006, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/18 "2006-07-05T02:02:22Z")
Internal thermostat going _cccCHNK_ the way the old hosehold models used to do. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2006, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/19 "2006-07-05T02:18:24Z")
Excuse me, but if Cecil couldn’t figure out piss shivers in 1994, why on Earth would anyone still be trying to figure it out now? Start a new thread on a new topic, for god’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2006, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144/20 "2006-07-05T02:24:09Z")
> [@CC](#): > > Excuse me, but if Cecil couldn’t figure out piss shivers in 1994, why on Earth would anyone still be trying to figure it out now? Start a new thread on a new topic, for god’s sake. I know about piss shivers- I’ve witnessed them in all 3 of my boys when they were babies. This is definitely not what I’m talking about, especially since I’m not urinating when they happen. And if you’re unhappy with the subject of a thread, just don’t click on it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-the-inexplicable-shudder/363144.md?page=2)