Why Do Some People Get Chills When Listening To Music Neuroscience Explained

Music has a unique ability to bypass rational thought and strike directly at the core of human emotion. For many, a powerful chord progression or a soaring vocal run can trigger something far more physical than mere appreciation: goosebumps, shivers down the spine, or even full-body chills. This phenomenon—commonly known as \"musical frisson\"—is not just poetic imagery; it's a measurable physiological response rooted in brain activity, neurochemistry, and deep-seated emotional processing. But why do only some people experience it, and what exactly happens in the brain when a song sends shivers across your skin?

Researchers in neuroscience, psychology, and music cognition have spent decades unraveling this mystery. The answer lies at the intersection of auditory perception, emotional anticipation, and reward systems in the brain. Understanding this experience offers insight not only into how we process music but also into the broader mechanisms of human emotion and pleasure.

The Science Behind Musical Chills

Musical frisson—derived from the French word for \"shiver\"—is a transient, pleasurable sensation often accompanied by piloerection (goosebumps), changes in heart rate, pupil dilation, and tingling along the arms or back. It typically occurs during emotionally intense moments in music, such as sudden dynamic shifts, harmonic surprises, or climactic resolutions.

Neuroimaging studies using fMRI have shown that when people experience chills from music, specific regions of the brain associated with emotion, reward, and motivation become highly active. These include the nucleus accumbens (a key component of the brain’s reward circuitry), the amygdala (involved in emotional processing), and the prefrontal cortex (responsible for expectation and decision-making).

What makes this particularly fascinating is that the brain responds to music similarly to how it reacts to other rewarding stimuli like food, sex, or drugs—releasing dopamine, the neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and reinforcement learning.

“Music-induced chills activate the same dopaminergic pathways as primary rewards. The brain treats a moving melody almost like a survival-level pleasure.” — Dr. Valorie Salimpoor, Cognitive Neuroscientist, McGill University

How Anticipation Triggers the Brain’s Reward System

One of the most compelling explanations for musical chills centers on the concept of *anticipation*. Music is inherently predictive—we unconsciously expect certain notes, rhythms, or harmonies based on cultural exposure and learned patterns. When a piece of music deviates from these expectations in a meaningful way—such as a delayed resolution, an unexpected modulation, or a dramatic pause followed by a crescendo—the brain registers surprise and emotional arousal.

This interplay between prediction and violation activates the mesolimbic pathway, which governs reward processing. Dopamine is released in two phases:

• Anticipatory phase: As the music builds toward a climax (e.g., a rising scale or increasing volume), dopamine levels rise in the dorsal striatum, creating a sense of longing or tension.
• Realization phase: When the expected moment arrives—or sometimes when it’s cleverly subverted—dopamine surges in the nucleus accumbens, producing a rush of pleasure.

It is often during this peak moment that listeners report chills. Notably, research shows that individuals who are more sensitive to reward and novelty tend to experience frisson more frequently. Personality traits such as openness to experience—a dimension in the Big Five personality model—are strongly correlated with susceptibility to musical chills.

Tip: Pay attention to songs with gradual buildups, dynamic contrasts, or emotional vocals—they’re more likely to trigger chills due to heightened anticipation.

Individual Differences: Why Some People Feel It and Others Don’t

Not everyone experiences musical chills. Studies estimate that between 55% and 86% of people report having had at least one episode of frisson in their lives, with frequency varying widely. What determines this difference?

Several factors contribute:

1. Personality: People high in openness to experience are more likely to feel chills. They tend to seek out novel, complex, and emotionally rich stimuli—including intricate or unconventional music.
2. Auditory sensitivity: Some individuals have heightened auditory processing, allowing them to detect subtle changes in timbre, pitch, and dynamics that others might miss.
3. Emotional empathy: Those who score higher on empathy scales are more attuned to the emotional content of music, making them more prone to visceral reactions.
4. Musical training: While not required, formal training can increase awareness of structural elements in music, enhancing the ability to anticipate and appreciate compositional nuances.

A 2011 study published in Biological Psychology found that participants who experienced frequent frisson had significantly higher connectivity between their auditory cortex and areas involved in emotion and memory. This suggests that the brains of “chill-prone” individuals may be wired to integrate sound and feeling more seamlessly.

Factors Influencing Susceptibility to Musical Frisson

Factor	High Sensitivity (More Likely to Get Chills)	Low Sensitivity (Less Likely)
Openness to Experience	Seeks emotional depth, complexity in art	Prefers familiar, predictable experiences
Empathy Level	Strong emotional resonance with music	Detached or analytical listening style
Auditory Attention	Notices subtle shifts in dynamics and tone	Focused on lyrics or rhythm only
Listening Environment	Quiet, immersive, distraction-free	Noisy, multitasking, background play

Case Study: The Power of Live Performance

Sophia, a 32-year-old graphic designer, had never experienced musical chills until she attended a live performance of Sigur Rós at a small concert hall. She described the moment during the song “Festival,” when the bowed guitar swelled into a wall of sound while lights dimmed and smoke filled the air. “I didn’t see it coming,” she recalled. “Suddenly, my arms were covered in goosebumps, my breathing slowed, and I felt tears welling up—not because I was sad, but because everything aligned: the music, the space, the silence before the burst.”

Her experience illustrates how context amplifies the frisson effect. Live performances often enhance emotional immersion through visual cues, spatial acoustics, and collective audience energy. The absence of digital distractions allows deeper engagement, increasing the likelihood of a neurological “peak” response. In Sophia’s case, her openness to ambient and post-rock music primed her brain to respond intensely when expectations met transcendent execution.

Maximizing Your Chances of Experiencing Musical Chills

While you can’t force frisson, you can create conditions that make it more likely. The following checklist outlines practical steps to heighten your sensitivity and deepen your emotional connection to music.

Chills Optimization Checklist

• ✅ Listen with high-quality headphones or speakers to capture dynamic range
• ✅ Choose music with emotional intensity—think crescendos, harmonic tension, or expressive vocals
• ✅ Minimize distractions: listen in a quiet room, preferably in the dark or with soft lighting
• ✅ Focus on anticipation: notice how the music builds toward key moments
• ✅ Experiment with genres outside your comfort zone (e.g., classical, post-rock, choral, jazz improvisation)
• ✅ Reflect emotionally: ask yourself how the music makes you feel and why
• ✅ Try listening with eyes closed to enhance internal focus and sensory absorption

Some researchers suggest that repeated exposure to a favorite piece can actually reduce the frequency of chills over time, as the brain becomes too familiar with the structure. To counteract habituation, seek out new interpretations of beloved works—different orchestras, live versions, or remixes—that reintroduce unpredictability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can musical chills be harmful?

No, musical chills are a completely normal and harmless physiological response. They are not linked to any medical condition and are considered a sign of deep emotional engagement with art. In rare cases, extremely intense reactions may cause temporary lightheadedness or shortness of breath due to altered breathing patterns, but these subside quickly.

Is there a link between frisson and ASMR?

While both involve pleasurable tingling sensations, they differ in origin. Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is typically triggered by soft sounds, whispers, or methodical movements and tends to produce a calming, meditative state. Musical frisson, on the other hand, arises from emotional peaks in music and is associated with excitement, awe, or catharsis. However, some overlap exists—both engage the brain’s reward system and may involve similar neural networks.

Do animals experience musical chills?

There is no evidence that non-human animals experience frisson in the same way humans do. While some animals respond to music (e.g., dogs calming to classical pieces), their auditory systems and emotional processing differ significantly. The complex interplay of memory, expectation, and cultural meaning that underpins human musical chills appears to be uniquely tied to our cognitive evolution.

Conclusion: Tuning Into the Mind’s Hidden Symphony

The experience of getting chills from music reveals a profound truth: our brains are not just passive receivers of sound, but active participants in a deeply personal emotional dialogue. Each shiver down the spine is a testament to the brain’s remarkable capacity to find meaning, beauty, and reward in abstract patterns of pitch and rhythm. It’s a fleeting yet powerful reminder that music isn’t merely entertainment—it’s a direct line to our innermost selves.

Whether you're someone who feels chills regularly or has yet to experience them, understanding the neuroscience behind this phenomenon invites a richer, more intentional relationship with music. By cultivating presence, expanding your sonic horizons, and embracing emotional vulnerability in listening, you open the door to moments of transcendent connection.

💬 Have you ever gotten chills from a song? Share the track and the moment in the comments—your story might help someone else discover their own frisson trigger.