# Why do we get goosebumps when...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-get-goosebumps-when/670394>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 4, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-get-goosebumps-when/670394 "2013-10-04T21:03:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-get-goosebumps-when/670394/1 "2013-10-04T21:03:44Z")

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we really, really like the music?

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**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-get-goosebumps-when/670394/2 "2013-10-04T22:59:04Z")

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Our brains use the body as part of its processing of emotion. People who suffer enough damage to the nerves/brain structures providing this connection between brain and body actually suffer from a lessening of emotional responses as a result in fact; they feel less, and can’t sustain more than flashes of emotions in severe cases.

So basically, your goosebumps are your brain doing the equivalent of jotting down “I really like this music”; it’s how the brain sustains that state of liking the music.

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**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-get-goosebumps-when/670394/3 "2013-10-05T04:09:56Z")

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So, sort of a reinforcement of the reaction? Like blushing, or blanching with shock? Thanks for answering **Der Trihs**.