Frissons

Frissons, or aesthetic chills, are sudden, intense emotional experiences that produce brief physical responses such as goosebumps, shivering, tingling, or warmth. The term frisson is French for "shiver" or "thrill." In scholarly use, frisson denotes an aesthetic reaction to emotionally powerful stimuli, most frequently music.

Triggers and phenomenology: Frissons are most commonly triggered by music, especially moments of unexpected resolution, dramatic crescendos, or expressive vocal lines. They can also occur in response to poetry, film, or other art forms, and may depend on personal relevance, mood, and prior exposure.

Physiology: The experience is accompanied by autonomic arousal, including piloerection (goosebumps), increased heart rate, and sometimes tremor or warmth. The sensation is usually brief, lasting a few seconds to a minute, and can be felt as a single moment or as a lingering sense of awe.

Neuroscience and psychology: Neuroimaging and psychophysiological studies link frisson to activity in auditory and reward-related brain circuits, including the nucleus accumbens and dopaminergic pathways. Prediction, expectancy, and the coherence between musical structure and emotional response are thought to contribute to the effect.

Variation and measurement: Frissons vary across individuals; some people experience them frequently, others rarely. Factors such as musical preference, personality traits (e.g., openness), and cultural background influence occurrence. Researchers commonly measure intensity and duration through self-report and correlate with physiological indicators.

See also: Aesthetic emotion, goosebumps, music and emotion.