title: Resting physiological arousal is associated with the experience of music-induced chills.
abstract: In the study of emotion and autonomic nervous system functioning, resting physiological arousal is usually considered a negative characteristic. The present study examined the relationship between resting physiological arousal and positive emotional experience linked to psychophysiological arousal. We assessed resting physiological arousal using markers as high skin conductance level and low respiratory sinus arrhythmia, measured just before participants listened to their favorite music. Participants reported the sensation of chills (goose bumps, shivers) by pressing a mouse button while listening. The results indicated that individuals with resting physiological arousal frequently experience music-induced chills, which evoked unambiguous pleasurable feelings and an increase in skin conductance response. The current results, and the previously demonstrated relationship between resting physiological arousal and negative emotionality linked to psychophysiological arousal (e.g., anxiety, panic), suggest that resting physiological arousal may reflect sensitivity to psychophysiological arousal with both intense positive and negative emotions.
authors.affiliation: Human Technology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan. Electronic address: kazumamori@affrc.go.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwanaga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001143:Arousal; D023341:Chills / Q000209:etiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009146:Music / Q000523:psychology*; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chills; Emotion; Music; Respiratory sinus arrhythmia; Skin conductance