Podcast Summary
Expert Assistance for Your Project from Ferguson: Ferguson's team of experts provide smooth project completion with product selection, order facilitation, and delivery coordination for homeowners, designers, and homebuilders.
At Ferguson, your project is their priority. Their team of experts in bath, kitchen, and lighting products, among other things, will help ensure a smooth project from start to finish. Whether you're a homeowner, designer, or homebuilder, Ferguson associates can assist with product selection, order facilitation, and delivery coordination. On a lighter note, if you're in the mood for something scary and smart, check out Leigh Bellmoore's "Fear Street" series on Netflix. It's a three-part series that's not for the faint of heart, with graphic and gory content. Now, back to the topic at hand, goosebumps are an evolutionary holdover from when humans had more body hair. When you get goosebumps, tiny muscles contract, causing the hairs to stand on end. This response is often referred to as "pillow erection muscles" contracting. This discussion might seem unrelated, but it's a reminder that Ferguson's team is always there to help make your project a success, no matter what you're building or remodeling. So, if you're ready to get started, visit Ferguson.com/build.
Goosebumps: More Than Just a Cold Response: Goosebumps are no longer just for keeping warm in animals, but in humans, they are the only consciously controllable sympathetic response and are triggered by emotional experiences.
Goosebumps serve dual functions: to help animals appear bigger as a defense mechanism, and to trap air between raised hairs to keep them warm. However, in humans, these functions are largely obsolete due to our lack of sufficient body hair. Instead, goosebumps have evolved to be the only consciously controllable sympathetic nervous response, and they are triggered by emotionally evocative experiences, such as music or stories. This hijacking of the goosebumps response is an intriguing example of how our brains have evolved to process emotions in unique ways.
A discussion about Zigazoo, MIT, music, technology, social media, Squarespace, and goosebumps: Zigazoo is a kid-friendly social media platform, MIT alum Tom Schultz discusses music and emotional connections, Squarespace's new Fluid Engine enables easy website creation, and a study links goosebumps to emotional experiences at live concerts.
During a conversation about music, technology, and social media, the topic of the app Zigazoo was brought up. Zigazoo is a social media platform designed specifically for kids, offering a safe and fun environment for them to share content and interact with their friends. The conversation also touched upon the MIT background of a band member, Tom Schultz, and the emotional connection people have with live music. Additionally, the discussion highlighted Squarespace and its new Fluid Engine, which allows users to create and customize websites with ease, offering unbreakable creativity and flexibility. A mention of a study in biological psychology regarding goosebumps during emotional experiences at live concerts was also made, but the details of the study and its findings were not elaborated upon in the conversation. Overall, the conversation covered a range of topics, from music and technology to social media and website design, with a focus on creating positive experiences and connections.
Music can evoke strong emotional responses: Music, particularly unexpected and emotionally charged, can trigger a physical response in the form of goosebumps or chills, activating our 'emotional brain' and connecting us to primal instincts.
Certain types of music, particularly those with a solo vocal or instrument emerging from a complex background, can elicit strong emotional responses in the form of goosebumps or chills. This was demonstrated in a study where songs by Celine Dion and Prince were tested, with Prince's "Purple Rain" producing a 100% chill ratio, meaning every listener experienced goosebumps or chills. This response is believed to be due to the activation of our "emotional brain," which is still wired to identify potential threats, even in modern society. When we hear unexpected and emotionally charged music, our emotional brain perceives it as a potential threat, triggering a physical response before our rational brain can assess the situation and determine it to be safe. This response is a reminder of the power of music to evoke strong emotions and connect us to our primal instincts.
The Science Behind Goosebumps: Anticipation and Unexpected Surprises: Goosebumps can be triggered by unexpected surprises or changes in music, leading to the release of tension and dopamine in the brain.
The experience of goosebumps or chills in response to music or emotionally evocative scenes is a complex phenomenon that is not fully understood. According to one theory proposed by neuroscientist Robert Culver, this response is triggered when our brain anticipates one thing and then experiences something unexpected, leading to the release of tension and the production of dopamine. However, this hypothesis is not universally accepted, and other researchers have proposed alternative explanations. For instance, Jock Ponski suggested in a 2011 study that the sudden emergence of a solo voice or instrument in a piece of music could be a significant factor in producing goosebumps. Ultimately, while there is ongoing research into this phenomenon, it is clear that the experience of goosebumps is a multifaceted response that involves both emotional and physiological processes.
Why certain sounds can evoke a profound response: Our evolutionary history causes primal reactions to specific sounds, such as a jumper cable being disconnected or a hard drive malfunctioning.
Certain sounds, like the one produced by a jumper cable being disconnected, can trigger a primal response in us due to our evolutionary history. This response is similar to the feeling of loss or separation, which can be quite unsettling. This explanation was made during a discussion on the Stuff You Should Know podcast, where the hosts delved into the science behind why certain sounds can have such a profound effect on us. They also touched upon the concept of the "jock-pan skip," a sound produced by a malfunctioning hard drive, and how it can evoke a similar response. Overall, the discussion highlighted the fascinating ways in which our evolutionary past continues to shape our experiences in the present.
