Musical chills induce psychological insight
Félix Schoeller, Abhinandan Jain, Leonardo Christov‐moore, Nicco Reggente
November 22, 2023 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/m9ea5 via OpenAlex
Summary
Participants who experienced aesthetic chills while listening to music reported greater psychological insight and emotional awareness than those who did not experience chills. The intensity of the chills was positively correlated with both insight and emotional awareness. This suggests that bodily sensations may influence cognitive and emotional changes.
Study at a glance
| Sample size | 94 |
|---|---|
| Population | human participants exposed to musical stimuli |
| Key finding | Participants experiencing chills reported significantly greater psychological insight and emotional awareness compared to non-chills controls. |
Abstract
Aesthetic chills involve pleasurable bodily sensations co-occurring with self-transcendent emotions. In this study, 94 participants were exposed to pre-validated musical stimuli with chills-inducing potential. Participants experiencing chills reported significantly greater psychological insight and emotional awareness compared to non-chills controls. Chills intensity positively correlated with insight and emotional awareness. These results suggest that interoceptive signals may precipitate cognitive-emotional shifts. Further research should explore the role of bodily manipulations across altered states.