More specifically mental pleasure, like hearing a really great song, or beholding an awesome view.
What is going on in our bodies/brain that leads to goosebumps from these things?
I am also interested in why we get goosebumps from physical pleasure, like a head scratch or someone tracing your skin
In: Biology
It’s called frisson, and it’s most likely due to dopamine being released after a strong emotional response to something, usually music.
Short answer is we just don’t really know. It’s just a thing that happens to us under certain stimulation, for example from touch or sound. It’s different for every person too, for example music that I like may give me goosebumps, while somebody else would feel nothing at all, because it doesn’t appeal to them.
Basically, when we experience something pleasurable, our brains release dopamine which can cause the muscles around our hair follicles to contract, resulting in goosebumps. This response is thought to be an evolutionary leftover from our ancestors who would get goosebumps in response to cold or fear, which would make their hair stand up and provide insulation or make them appear larger to predators.
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