Whether it’s in response to the cold weather or a delightful guitar solo, goosebumps are thought to be largely beyond our control. This is true to some extent, but it may not be the same for everyone.
Some people have the extraordinary ability to control the ability to induce goosebumps at will. Interestingly, early research has shown that people with certain personality traits, especially high levels of openness, may be more likely to be able to control goosebumps than others.
Why do we get goosebumps?
Goosebumps have been around since our ancestors. At a moment when the brain goes into a flight or fight response, the tiny muscles around the hair follicle contract, causing the hair to stand up and make the animal look bigger and scarier. But for us, who are largely hairless animals, this mostly just causes a few hairs on the skin to stand up, rather than being a frightening sight. This is generally considered an involuntary response controlled by nerves from the sympathetic nervous system, which regulates the body’s unconscious actions. So, given our current understanding, it should be physiologically impossible to control this action at will. But as it turns out, some people have conscious control over this action.
In a 2018 study published in the journal PeerJ, Northeastern University researchers recruited 32 people who were able to demonstrate voluntary control of piloerection, the scientific name for the contraction of small muscles at the base of hair follicles that causes goosebumps. Many of these participants stated that it was extremely easy for them to give goosebumps and even said they were surprised that most people did not have this ability.
“I think I’m getting goosebumps, they’re starting to show up, I’m shaking/shivering and they’re showing up,” one said. Another said: “I just think about the act of getting goosebumps and focus a little on the back of my neck.”
“Open” people can control their hair
As part of this study, participants were asked to answer a survey about their personalities, as well as other questions about goosebumps. The team found that anyone who could control their goosebumps exhibited higher levels of openness. This is a personality trait that generally refers to a person’s tendency to be more receptive to new ideas and new experiences. These people value art and beauty more, as well as being more creative and curious.
Unfortunately, researchers note that there is no way to explain why people with high levels of openness have this skill. Additionally, since the sample size of the study was very small, the fact that all participants exhibited higher levels of openness may have been observed simply by chance. The authors of the study say they want to follow up their research with a larger study involving more people to solve this mystery.
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