erratio comments on How is your mind different from everyone else's? - Less Wrong

31 Post author: Kaj_Sotala 05 December 2011 08:38AM

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Comment author: erratio 05 December 2011 02:11:03PM 7 points [-]

Enjoyable shivers down the back of the spine

First I heard that it might not be universal was someone's comment here a few days ago. Not sure if it's a mental or physical difference though.

Comment author: jsalvatier 05 December 2011 04:20:14PM *  2 points [-]

I think that was my comment. My girlfriend gets these too but actually dislikes them, which I thought was interesting. It's also worth pointing out that that site is run by non-scientists and I haven't been able to find research on this topic.

Comment author: erratio 05 December 2011 04:38:44PM 2 points [-]

When I looked at some of the links from that page, I found it mildly weird how enjoyable some people find it, to the point of using it as a form of mood management and bemoaning the loss the of it. This leads me to believe that a) not everyone has the reaction (eg. some people on reddit thought they were being trolled), and b) it's highly varied in strength/frequency/pleasantness (eg. I have very few reliable triggers and it's not so great that I seek it out).

Comment author: argumzio 15 December 2011 07:41:35PM *  1 point [-]

I experience this during intense aesthetic events as in music, literature, or cinema. It is delightful.

Comment author: quentin 07 December 2011 11:43:48PM *  1 point [-]

Wow, I thought everyone got those.

Some from that list I would have imagined to be universal (who doesn't get shivers and tingles listening to Beethoven? seriously.), but these in particular are both incredibly accurate for myself and things that I figured were personal quirks:

Exposure to slow, accented, or unique speech patterns

Viewing educational or instructive videos or lectures

Watching another person complete a task, often in a diligent, attentive manner - examples would be filling out a form, writing a check, going through a purse or bag, inspecting an item closely, etc.

Sometimes I watch instructive videos on youtube, where the narrator has a slow, interesting voice and is methodically explaining how to do a mundane task, like... folding clothes. This gives me extremely pleasurable sensations, with a slight hint of shame for having such obviously wierd tastes. I'm glad to know I'm not a freak :D

A similar experience can be stimulated in most people with a device... it consists of dozen or so wire prongs that you massage your head with (The Octopus Tingling Head Massager, I'm completely serious)... the feeling it produces for me is similar to ASMR, and I've never had anyone tell me it didn't feel really good.

Also, "head orgasm" is a pretty accurate phrase for this too.

Comment author: Jayson_Virissimo 06 December 2011 09:25:33AM 1 point [-]

I get shivers down my spine when I am in dangerous situations (like when I narrowly avoid a car accident or I hear a nearby gunshot I wasn't expecting), but they are not enjoyable.

Comment author: sixes_and_sevens 06 December 2011 12:51:39AM 1 point [-]

I am genuinely shocked that this isn't a universal experience. I routinely experience this at dramatic or highly emotive points in cinema or television.

I assumed this was what people meant when they say that something "sends shivers down your spine". Although thinking about it, there's a similar but distinct and less pleasant experience (which I associate with the expression "like someone walking over your grave") that I also experience.

Comment author: lessdazed 08 December 2011 12:26:08AM 0 points [-]

I used to get those, but haven't much since I turned 19 or so.

Comment author: lavalamp 08 December 2011 12:02:13AM 0 points [-]

Wait, you mean this isn't just a figure of speech?

Comment author: Kaj_Sotala 06 December 2011 09:44:04AM 0 points [-]

Wow.

I've had enjoyable shivers several times, but at first I was really puzzled to see that site: why make such a big deal out of it, any more than you'd make a big deal over feeling nice after having a cup of coffee or something? Then I followed the Reddit links and found that people were talking about it as a "head orgasm", and realized that apparently for some people it's a really strong experience, much stronger than it is for me. Fascinating.

Comment author: Jolima 05 December 2011 11:07:26PM 0 points [-]

I've got this too and have learned how to do it more or less at will. This post from that same page ties the feeling to Seratonin release which seems to make sense. I haven't looked into it enough to say it's certainly true though.

Comment author: falenas108 05 December 2011 09:51:03PM -1 points [-]

Huh, interesting. I have this and knew that most people didn't, but never knew anything about it.

For me, it's usually triggered by either intense emotional or intelectual stimula, or a sudden relaxation or alteration of body position (e.g. going from hunched over to sitting up straight).