11/25/2025
DID YOU KNOW about Frisson??
Frisson is the French word for "shiver" and refers to a sudden, strong feeling of excitement or pleasure, often felt as a "chill" or tingling sensation down the spine, that can be triggered by aesthetic stimuli like music, art, or a powerful scene in a film. It involves physical reactions like goosebumps and a racing heart, and it's associated with a brain response similar to those triggered by rewards and addiction, including the release of dopamine.
How it works
* Brain activity: Frisson occurs when your brain connects auditory or visual stimuli with emotional and reward centers. ��
* Dopamine release: This connection causes the brain's reward system to release dopamine, a chemical linked to pleasure. ���
* Physical response: The dopamine surge creates a "fight or flight" response, activating the sympathetic nervous system and leading to physical changes like goosebumps (piloerection), a shiver, and a racing heart. �
Did you know that under 86% of the population experiences frisson. And that approximately 5% experience no stimulation from music or art at all?