Why Do Some People Get Chills When Listening To Music Explained

Somewhere between a whisper in a quiet verse and a soaring crescendo, it happens: a sudden ripple down the spine, goosebumps on the arms, a shiver that feels both involuntary and profound. For many, this reaction—commonly known as “musical frisson” or “chills”—is a fleeting but powerful experience. But why do only some people feel it? And what exactly is happening inside the brain and body when a melody sends shivers across the skin?

This phenomenon isn’t just poetic—it’s deeply rooted in neuroscience, emotion, and even personality. While not everyone experiences it, those who do often describe it as one of the most intense pleasures music can offer. Understanding why it occurs reveals surprising insights into how our brains process sound, emotion, and reward.

The Science Behind Musical Chills

Musical frisson—derived from the French word for \"shiver\"—is a psychophysiological response to emotionally moving stimuli, especially music. It typically manifests as tingling sensations along the skin, piloerection (goosebumps), changes in heart rate, and sometimes even pupil dilation. These reactions are measurable and consistent across individuals who report experiencing them.

Neuroimaging studies using fMRI have shown that when people experience chills from music, specific regions of the brain light up. The primary areas involved include:

• Nucleus accumbens: A key component of the brain’s reward system, associated with pleasure, motivation, and addiction.
• Orbitofrontal cortex: Involved in emotional regulation and decision-making.
• Insular cortex: Processes bodily awareness and emotional states.
• Anterior cingulate cortex: Linked to attention, anticipation, and emotional processing.

What’s remarkable is that these same brain regions activate during other pleasurable experiences—like eating delicious food or receiving a reward. In fact, dopamine, the neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and anticipation, surges in the nucleus accumbens seconds before and during a chill-inducing moment in music.

“Music-induced chills engage the same neural pathways as primal rewards. The brain treats a beautiful chord progression almost like food or social connection.” — Dr. Valorie Salimpoor, Neuroscientist and Music Cognition Researcher

Why Only Some People Experience It

Not everyone gets chills from music—and that’s normal. Research suggests that approximately 50% to 80% of people report having experienced musical frisson at least once, but only about 25% experience it regularly. What separates those who do from those who don’t?

One major factor is **personality**. Studies have consistently found that people high in the trait of **openness to experience**—a dimension of the Big Five personality model—are far more likely to experience musical chills. This trait includes appreciation for art, imagination, emotional depth, and intellectual curiosity. These individuals tend to engage more deeply with aesthetic stimuli, including music, making them more susceptible to intense emotional responses.

Another factor is **cognitive engagement**. Listeners who actively pay attention to music—analyzing structure, anticipating changes, or focusing on dynamics—are more prone to chills than passive listeners. This suggests that frisson isn’t just about the music itself, but how we listen to it.

Tip: To increase your chances of experiencing musical chills, listen attentively in a quiet environment, focus on emotional build-ups, and choose music that has personal meaning.

What Makes Music Trigger Chills?

Certain musical features are strongly correlated with the onset of frisson. These aren’t random—they follow patterns that exploit our brain’s expectations and emotional sensitivities. Key elements include:

Musical Element	Effect on Listener	Example
Sudden volume increase (crescendo)	Triggers arousal and surprise	Final chorus in Adele’s “Someone Like You”
Unexpected harmonic shift	Creates emotional tension and release	Modulation in “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
Vocal entry after silence	Heightens intimacy and impact	First line in “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley
High register or vocal intensity	Elicits awe and emotional peak	Whitney Houston’s sustained note in “I Will Always Love You”
Personal association or memory	Amplifies emotional resonance	Hearing a song tied to a life event

These moments work because they create a kind of emotional “violation of expectation.” When music builds tension—through silence, dissonance, or rising pitch—and then resolves it in a satisfying way, the brain releases dopamine as a reward. This neurochemical surge is what produces the physical sensation of chills.

A Real Example: The Power of Anticipation

Consider Sarah, a classical music enthusiast who tears up every time she hears the opening of Samuel Barber’s *Adagio for Strings*. She first heard it at her grandfather’s funeral. Since then, the piece carries deep emotional weight. But even without that context, the music itself is engineered to induce chills.

The piece begins softly, with a slow, ascending melodic line. Over several minutes, the tension builds through repetition and subtle harmonic shifts. When the climax arrives—still soft but emotionally overwhelming—the listener feels a sense of release so profound it borders on catharsis. For Sarah, the combination of personal memory and musical structure makes the chills inevitable.

This illustrates a critical point: frisson often arises from the interplay between objective musical features and subjective emotional history.

How to Increase Your Chances of Experiencing Musical Chills

If you’ve never felt chills from music—or want to experience them more frequently—there are strategies you can use. While genetics and personality play a role, behavior and environment matter too.

1. Listen actively, not passively. Avoid multitasking. Close your eyes, focus on the instrumentation, and anticipate changes.
2. Choose emotionally resonant music. Pick songs tied to meaningful memories or that evoke strong feelings.
3. Optimize your environment. Use headphones in a quiet room to eliminate distractions and enhance auditory detail.
4. Explore new genres. Novelty increases arousal. Try post-rock, film scores, or choral music if you usually listen to pop.
5. Pay attention to dynamics. Songs with dramatic shifts in volume, tempo, or texture are more likely to trigger frisson.

Tip: Re-listen to a song you once loved but haven’t heard in years. Nostalgia can reignite emotional sensitivity and increase the likelihood of chills.

Checklist: Are You Ready for Musical Chills?

• ✅ Listening in a quiet, distraction-free space
• ✅ Using quality headphones or speakers
• ✅ Focusing fully on the music (not multitasking)
• ✅ Choosing a song with emotional or personal significance
• ✅ Allowing yourself to be emotionally open

Common Misconceptions About Musical Frisson

Despite growing scientific interest, several myths persist about why people get chills from music.

Misconception 1: Only “emotional” people get chills.
Reality: While emotional sensitivity plays a role, the response is more closely tied to cognitive engagement and openness to experience than general emotional reactivity.

Misconception 2: Classical or sad music is the only trigger.
Reality: Frisson occurs across genres—from heavy metal to electronic dance music to hip-hop. It’s the structure and delivery, not the genre, that matters.

Misconception 3: Everyone should feel it.
Reality: Up to half of people may never experience it regularly. That doesn’t mean they enjoy music less—just that their neurophysiological response differs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you train yourself to get chills from music?

While you can't force frisson, you can increase its likelihood by refining your listening habits. Practicing active listening, exploring diverse music, and revisiting emotionally charged songs can help sensitize your response over time.

Are musical chills related to synesthesia?

No, they are distinct phenomena. Synesthesia involves cross-sensory perception (e.g., seeing colors when hearing music), while frisson is a physiological response to emotional stimulation. However, some synesthetes report heightened emotional reactions to music, which may indirectly increase chills.

Do animals experience musical chills?

There’s no evidence that non-human animals experience frisson as humans do. While some animals respond to music, the complex interplay of memory, anticipation, and cultural exposure required for chills appears uniquely human.

The Emotional Reward of Music

Musical chills are more than a quirky bodily reaction—they’re a window into how music functions as a profound emotional technology. Unlike language, music bypasses rational filters and speaks directly to the limbic system, the brain’s emotional core. When we experience chills, we’re witnessing the brain rewarding us for engaging with something deeply meaningful.

This may explain why music has been central to human culture for millennia. From tribal drumming to modern concerts, music fosters connection, expresses grief, celebrates joy, and strengthens identity. The chills we feel are a biological affirmation of its power.

Interestingly, people who experience frequent musical frisson also report higher levels of empathy and emotional responsiveness. This suggests that the ability to be moved by music may reflect a broader capacity for emotional attunement—to art, to others, and to oneself.

Conclusion: Embrace the Shiver

Musical chills are a testament to the intricate relationship between sound, emotion, and biology. They remind us that music isn’t just entertainment—it’s a visceral, neurological event capable of touching the deepest parts of who we are. Whether you experience them daily or have yet to feel that first ripple down your spine, the potential for transcendence through music is always present.

By understanding the science behind frisson, we don’t diminish its magic—we deepen our appreciation for it. So next time a song gives you goosebumps, don’t brush it off. Lean into it. That shiver is your brain celebrating beauty, memory, and connection—all in a single moment of sound.

💬 Did a song ever give you chills? Share your story in the comments—what was the track, and why do you think it moved you?