Why Do Goosebumps Happen?
If you've ever wondered why you get a sudden rush of little bumps on your arms and legs when you get cold, scared or excited, there are both physiological and psychological reasons. Our bodies physically respond to cold environment by raising those little bumps on our bodies, but a psychological association to an emotion can also cause them. Although getting goosebumps may seem like a momentary affliction, it actually begins as a complex involuntary process.
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Physiological Triggers
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Goosebumps are the result of a physiological chain reaction that begins with stimuli prompting a nerve discharge from our involuntary nervous system. This involuntary discharge causes tiny hair muscles (commonly referred to as pilo muscles) that are located beneath each hair follicle, to contract and push the hair follicle upward; thus we have the hair standing on end. Since humans aren't covered with thick body hair, we see the raised hair follicle--hence, the goosebumps.
DNA and Goosebumps
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Initially, goosebumps were coded into our DNA to serve a dual purpose: heighten our fear to warn us of danger; and precipitate a means to keep us warm. On furry animals, when the hair is raised, it forms an insulation that provides warmth; however, there is little evidence to suggest that humans, deficient in body hair when compared to our furry mammal counterparts, derive any warming benefit from the hair-raising event. According to Dr. John Pollock, Duquesne University, this DNA coding that produces goosebumps is referred to as "vestigal structure," meaning it has no value in our present-day evolution.
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Causes
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Both cold temperature and sudden fear are causes of goosebumps, but fear is not the only emotion that causes them. Emotions are triggered by the limbic system in our brain, which is the recipient of all sensory input, including anticipation of pleasant activities. Music and art often evoke strong emotional responses, which may provoke goosebumps.
There are other causes of goosebumps that are of more concern; they can happen just before or during a seizure and also during withdrawal from drugs. Anyone who experiences goosebumps often should see a doctor for a medical evaluation.
Medical Definition
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Horripilation refers to the act of getting goosebumps. It's derived from the Latin word, "horrere" which means "to stand on end," and "pilus," which translates as "hair"; thus, a combination of the two means "hair standing on end."
The more common medical term that refers to the result of horripilation is "cutis anserine," which also has a Latin origin--"cutis" meaning "skin" and "anser" meaning "goose." Goosebumps are also medically defined as a pilorector reflex because of the pilo muscle's contraction.
Common Definition
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Most often, we refer to those bumps simply as goosebumps or goose flesh, because during an episode, the skin resembles the rough pimple-like appearance of poultry after all the feathers have been plucked. It's far easier to say "goosebumps" than it is to wade through the cumbersome definitions of the official medical terminology for the condition.
Another common term for goosebumps is chill bumps.
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