why do we get goosebumps when listening to music

We get goosebumps when listening to music due to a phenomenon called frisson, which is a sudden rush of intense emotion accompanied by physiological reactions like goosebumps. This happens because music activates the brain's reward and pleasure centers, releasing dopamine—a chemical linked to feelings of pleasure and reward. The effect is stronger in people whose brains have denser connections between the auditory cortex and emotion-processing areas, which means their brains process sound and emotion more intensely. Key musical triggers include rising pitch, harmonic intervals, intense lyrics, and emotionally powerful moments such as certain chords or notes. The sensation is related to deep emotional processing and can be similar to the feelings produced by other intensely rewarding experiences.