[pumpkinvenom]

ive often used the goosebumps thing to taste things while grocery shopping, to taste thru plastic, unfortunately it fails on metal...i suppose few have tried to use it externally or delve deeper in to what it can do..once i was herding sheep they of course giving me a hard time for several hours..i did the goosebumps thing, but injected hate and death into it..for 2 seconds a heard of 200+ head stood and looked me...then ran like i was a demon from hell..perhaps someone could interact with pets experimenting with the polar love and evil and record the reactions

[gbc89]

I got at least one thing explained so far;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensor_tympani_muscle [nofollow]

Here you can read that a small percentage can actually voluntarily tension a muscle in the ear vibrating the drums making a rumbling sound.
Guess I can do that.

Another explanation found, this is for GOOSEBUMPS under control:
http://jn.physiology.org/content/1/4/342.extract [nofollow]
http://tobaccodocuments.org/ctr/HK1471168-1168.html [nofollow]
http://www.uni-kiel.de/psychologie/emotion/team/kaernbach/publications/2010_ben&al_psychophysiol.pdf [nofollow]
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T4T-521NWHJ-1&_user=10&_coverDate=01/26/2011&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=ce63cda04b66434a364d36a280350d3a&searchtype=a#sec0010 [nofollow]

So there has been research on this 'phenomenon'.

[hybrid125]

Wow, I just came across this forum.  I've never thought to google it in the past but there are a lot of people here that seem to have the same feelings that I've questioned over the years.  I'm a 30 year old male and I've been able to control my goosebumps for over a decade.  I can't remember when exactly it started, but nobody I've ever met has ever been able to do the same.  I have abnormal bursts of strength and energy sometimes triggering me to run or to move faster and harder.  Music sometimes triggers the goosebumps and/or energy.  I'm married and have two children.  My son is autisic.  I'm in I.T. If you saw me on the street, you would think I'm an everyday individual.  I'm a good looking guy with a not thin, but not muscular body type.  I drink somewhat heavly due to anxiety that's seems to be always prevelant.  I can't control my goosebumps as well when I drink, but when I'm completely sober, the control confuses and scares me.  Sometimes I feel like I'm invinicible, like I could plow through a foot of metal and come out the other side smiling.  I'm not that strong, but I can do somethings that suprise myself when I have that energy running through me.  If there is anyone else that can relate, please post.  There is something that is not "normal" about the way I feel.  I can see from some of the earlier posts, there are other people that feel like this too. Ψ

[theskybeblue]

Was interesting to find this posted online, I was wondering if anyone had tried practising this while looking in a mirror at your pupils.

This came up while I was talking with a friend about what physical processes where happening in my body when I do this, and we got talking about the likelihood of it beein adrenalin/noradrenaline that I was releasing and he asked if it also made my pupils dilate which had never occured to me as I can't see my own eyes

This got me thinking and later on I tried the goose pimple/rush thing whilst looking in the mirror at my pupils, It took me considerable concentration to achieve but my pupils did dilate along with the goose pimples

I Had to keep the "rush" going for about 20-30 seconds before my pupils dilated and they went back to normal very rapidly after I stopped, so keeping them dilated for a useful amount of time would take a lot of effort, definitely an impressive party trrick though not so much for me as my eyes are very dark so it's hard to see whether my pupils are dilated or not

Try it, it's seriously freaky, I just burst out laughing at myself when I managed to do it.

[BoyOfOceanus]

XD well heres a little something I have to add, a little mind you. I was lucky enough to procure some shrooms, and of course I had to try this while I was on this, sadly I think I waited to long to try. The mushroom definilely dehydrates you, which with this I think being hydrated is essential. It was a nice relaxing trip that had me with tears as I listened to Funcadelic's Maggot Brain..... was beautiful. Outside of that I've been researching qigong to hopefully find a better focus on breathing and such, let me know if any of you guys notice anything new. I'll definitely be trying the mirror/pupils thing, that would be a major trip.

[Shironin]

Wow, I can't believe there are so many others out there.

I shall recount various experiences I have had while using this technique, but first, I'll explain how I go about creating the feeling.

I think it first began as an offset of music that made me feel a certain way. I realised that thinking about that particular music reignited the "waves" (as most people refer to the experience). After a while I relied on simply imagining that feeling to bring it on, and now it second nature. I do, however, do various things to intensify it. I notice it tends to be stronger when I close my eyes and focus on an imaginary spot between my eyes; in a way, as if I was trying hard to look at my third eye. Secondly, various positioning of my hands seem to create various feelings and effects (which I later found out formed part of a meditation technique called Kuji-In).

As many people have already mentioned, I use it to generate energy, but this does lead to me being drained. I have also noticed that on a much broader scale it has allowed me to control various bodily functions and exercise great deals of self control as is necessary. I have once gone for 3 days without eating while not feeling the effects of hunger. On another occasion I went for 3 days without needing to do number 2 (I never know how to say that graciously, lol :p) also without the urge to. And in my schooling career have used their toilets enough times to count on my hands. It seems that as long as I have the will to bring forth the power, it exists. I never have trouble bringing it out.

On a stranger note, I have also been able to simulate the feeling of being high. I was once pressured into drug use which I regretted, but am grateful for the experience. Now when I am around people who are high (which I really hate), I can mimic that exact same feeling to better deal with the situation and understand their mentality.

Also, not sure if this is exactly related, but I have been able to read people better as I have gotten older. I can tell personality traits, general interests and certain things about them which often creeps people out.

One other thing that may just be my imagination is that whenever a situation seems tense, it seems that I am able to change the whole atmosphere of a situation and the people involved. Its as if people forget what they are arguing about when I channel that energy or feeling with the intent of love. Uneasy situations make me feel uncomfortable very quickly, so it is almost like a reflex. I have seldom witnessed a fight in my life first hand and have never been involved in one. I have never seen a car accident happen first hand and very few people close to me and or related have died. Maybe I am just really lucky.

Anyway, just thought I'd give my input. I consider it quite a big part of my life as I use it very often in my day.

If anybody is keeping tabs of this all for reference sake, I am an 18 y/o white male from South Africa and I found out about the ability younger than what I can remember.

[Blake]

This has surprisingly been the most informative site about this 'thing' that I've tried to find anywhere. My name is Blake, I'm 18, I live in Australia and I think I can control my goosebumps.

I think I've somehow always been able to control it, and I thought it was normal, until I showed my friends. None of them could do it. Right now, I don't need cold weather, music, too much concentration, or any emotion to trigger it, I just think of the sensation and it happens- without trying to sound pretentious. After showing it around enough at school, I can control it fairly well (:

For me it starts at the base of the back of my skull, and it feels like a mass of energy covering me like a 'layer' and I can feel it travel all around my body. Without too much effort I create many layers for about a minute, then it gets difficult. If I do it for too long, or waste my energy too quickly, my scalp starts to hurt. I don't know if this is the same with anyone else, but even if the pulses of energy start at the base of the back of the skull, my whole scalp hurts afterwards. If there is any insight into this, it would be much appreciated.

Also after reading a lot of these posts, I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed that I think there are only guys that have posted, which may be a contributing factor to this skill. I think, in order for us to better understand this, there has to be some sort of connection between everyone who has this ability. I'm going to describe some random things about myself that I don't think I've shared with a lot of people - It may not be major, but its worth a shot.

In cold weather I can wear a singlet and shorts and not get cold. In hot weather I can wear a jumper and jeans and feel fine. As a child I was pretty much never sick. I don't need a lot of sleep to function (I usually have about 5 hours every night). I did not find it difficult being vegetarian for 2 years. I feel as though I'm lucky all the time - not fortunate, but actually lucky. I once started an assignment (in English) the night before, and found out that I scored the highest in our grade :| and even more recently, I went over to my friends house (for no particular reason at all) and got 30 dollars to drive him to another friends house, and then go to the movies with his sister (: after the movies we went to a pizza place and got a free dinner (3 pizzas, 3 garlic breads, desert, coke) then took her back to her place (: (: all in all a really lucky night. I have really good balance. I love being underwater. I can read people well. I am happiest when I'm using energy, and this goosebump ability helps me to relax/sleep/concentrate/pray. I feel as though I see the world differently to others and I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason.

hopefully this description has matched some things with anyone else reading the posts on this site.

if anyone wants to reply to this, just do so on this site (:

Cheers guys,
Blake.

[jpass21]

This forum is so awesome. I just assumed this and other abilities were common in everyone. I have long had the abilities to pop my own ears, focus my eyes at will, release goose bump waves, voluntarily activate the tensor tympani, and slow my heart rate. I remember as a child being perplexed at people who could not pop their own ears on airplanes or underwater.

While I have not noticed any increase in strength or speed, I have noticed a heightened concentration and an ability to  focus the energy in different areas. I have also often used the ability during exams, and have found that it aids in memory recall. I have always been excited about unexplained phenomena, and always hope to be a part of one.

I have also found that releasing the waves can get peoples attention, especially in a quiet room. During classes, I would try to get a certain person to look over at me. It worked about 80% of the time. Has anyone else tried this? It also works in reverse. If I concentrate on muting the energy I can bring an unusual stillness to my being and feel much less noticeable.

My email is [removed for your safety] if anyone wants to discuss this further. Good luck fellow goose bumpers!

[please use the PM system to have personal discussions with other members, regards Mod.]

[jpass21]

Blake,

I share many if not all of the same qualities as you. I constantly feel lucky and can read those around me. I would not describe it as telepathy, but more like subconscious empathy. It is very difficult to describe in word, but I hope you all understand. I love being underwater as well, and when I get in the right frame of mind, can hold my breath for a very long time.

One quick story you might find interesting:

I was driving to Taco Bell with my friends when we got passed by a crappy old car. The car passed us in the oncoming lane of traffic after I would not allow him to cut in front of me at the light. Right as they passed, my friends began shouting and demanding I speed up and chase them down. I, however, told them that I would drive safely and normally and that the universe would take care of it. Not more than ten seconds later, A cop pulls out of a blind driveway and pulls the car over right in front of us.

While I did not know the future, I did have an extreme instinct not to overreact. This is only one instance and I have had many similar experiences. Does any of this apply to anyone else, or am I the kookiest one on the forum?

[Blake]

jpass21,

I'm not sure if others have had this resounding need to follow their instinct but occurrences like the one you described are common for me. In several instances I have had thoughts where I know for certain that I should do something or be somewhere - almost like I am supposed/meant to do it/bethere. A really bizarre example of this would have been when I was watching TV, I randomly turned it off, walked outside and stood next to the boot of my dads car, while he was unloading groceries. All the while I was literally watching my feet move, and thinking to myself (what am I doing?). I waited next to the car, while he was unloading, he didn't hear/see me, so I accidentally frightened him when he saw me. We had a bit of a laugh, I helped him with the rest, and we talked for about an hour about anything and everything. Its not that we don't talk, it was just good.

I did a test once, for my religion class, and we were discussing the types of roles that we would play in our class (leaders, helpers, teachers, etc.) and at the end of the test we all got back our results. I can't remember what the word was called, but I received a label (lets call it X) that no one else in the class received. After reading what X meant on the sheet, the description was: has a profound level thinking, has a good judge of character and follows their heart - will be important qualities for the end of days.

:| - the reaction from the last words

ALSO, it may be random, but considering my other post was relevant to someone, I think I should also mention a prominent random thing  abut me. I've noticed recently that if I leave my left hand in the same place for maybe half an hour, it starts to spasm. I'll hold it in front of my face and watch tensing nerve points (out of my control) control my fingers like a puppet master :| it is the weirdest feeling, not having control of a part of your body that you know is moving involuntarily..

just thought I'd mention it (: and feel free to comment

Cheers guys,
Blake.

[MattShay]

hey guys. i'm 21 years old. for a very long time now i've been able to control my goosebumps as well. basically it feels like an enormous energy/shockwave that streams from the bottom of my skull and blankets my entire body. it started off with certain types of music. i don't exactly know how to describe it, mostly just some kind of tune that inspires power or something. i was always a big fan of the "one man achieving greatness" type movies since i was a little kid. when i was younger i discovered dragonball z, and honestly that is the closest kind of feeling i can relate it to is when they power up. and silly me, something about watching it makes me feel as if im powering up as well (goosebumps). now i've done lots and lots of research, and one thing i've heard is that it could be just a stronger sense of Qi, which every being has, yet we can actually call upon the energy at will. do it when you run: you run faster. lifting weights? strength increases temporarily. somebody mentioned controlling the tensor tympani. i too can do this. not sure if there is a relation, but still a nifty little trick when you're diving deep or on a plane.

basically, i can't get enough of the feeling. and i can't get enough of gaining more knowledge about this. my brother can do this as well. but anyone else thinks i'm out of it (until i make my hair stand, that freaks them out a bit).

also, it seems if you practice it daily, you can extend the strength and length of time to maintain it. i wonder how far this can be taken...

*edit* just to add a little bit, i dont know if its related, but ive also been able to dream things the night before they happen on a few occasions. also, a random movie will pop into my mind. and about 80% of the time when that happens, if i flip around the tv, its on. even something that hasnt been shown for years.

and on a side note, i've come to understand dogs can sense things we cannot. while practicing maintaining goosebumps a number of times, my dog has woken up from a nap and will come right up to me and whine with his tail wagging crazy as if i had just come home from being gone all day. i thought maybe it was coincidence, but it seems to happen too much to be just coincidence.

now i've spoken privately to a few members about this ability, and i've given them my crazy theories that have been shot down. i, however, believe anything is possible. if anyone has had a weird experience with this, please pm me. if there is something i can accomplish in this lifetime, it will be to fully understand just exactly what this ability is meant for, and why there are only a select few who can do it.

[Thouv]

It started with music, I would get all goose-bumpy when I listened to good music, at the time it was done subconsciously so I wanted to learn to control it. At a young age I wanted to learn to control the ability without the help of any music or foreign stimuli.

I think it first began as an offset of music that made me feel a certain way. I realised that thinking about that particular music reignited the "waves" (as most people refer to the experience). After a while I relied on simply imagining that feeling to bring it on, and now it second nature.

The way it started for me was exactly the same as Shironin! Playing music, then thinking about the music, then imagining the feeling, and now purely at will.
It seems like music was definitely the starting point for a lot of us.

Also after reading a lot of these posts, I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed that I think there are only guys that have posted, which may be a contributing factor to this skill.

I had emitted that hypothesis on page 5, but I was wrong (Pumpkin is female, same page).

[Thouv]

MattShay: It indeed does feel like the Dragonball Z "powering up".

I don't think it is related to the tensor tympani. Some people can control that and not goosebumps. We should also ask people here who can control their tensor tympani (I can).

I think it's very interesting that your brother can do it. Did one "teach" the other?

Whenever I launch a "wave", it lasts several seconds. I can "sustain" it by sending another wave before the first one is over, in which case it becomes constant in a way.

I don't see how this would be related to dreaming/precognition. I believe that most of the wacky stuff that people mention here (sorry, I'm a skeptic) is just the result of a cognitive bias. Your movie thing probably doesn't happen 80% of the time, it's just that when it does happen, it becomes "meaningful" and you remember it, whereas if you think of a random movie and it doesn't pop up, you forget about it.

I think the reason only a select few can do this is: training + possibly genetics.
I don't believe the ability is "for" anything, we can just do it, it's just a kind of biofeedback, just like controlling one's pulse (which I can't do, though I never really tried), etc.

[MattShay]

I actually had no idea my brother could do it until I mentioned it to him, shortly after I found out it wasn't a common thing.

I'm sure the movie thing is unrelated, just thought it was something fun to throw out there. But yes, most of the time if a random movie pops into my head, it is in fact on television.

Next time you go for a workout, just try it. You will understand what I'm talking about. It almost seems like an instant dose of steroids.

[jpass21]

Blake,

I too have noticed spasms in my left hand. This is especially common after I find myself daydreaming or concentrating on something for an extended period. I also get spasms in my left eye and shoulder. Occasionally on the right side as well, but more often than not on the left. I have not asked my brother about his abilities but will be sure to do so when I see him. I don't know about running faster or lifting heavier objects, but there is definitely something interesting happening. I am also intrigued with your ability to know what is on TV. This is happened to me a few times, though probably not more than can be written off by coincidence. However, with music on the radio I frequently find a song that has been in my head. Like you said, it will often be an old or obscure song and I am often surprised that it is on the radio at all.

I am also beginning to understand that much of the world occurs to me in patterns. I believe that anyone could pick up on these, but for some reason it comes more easily to me. I wonder if you experience some of the same phenomena. It is almost as if certain periods of time are chapters in a book dotted with similarly themed events. Once I notice the pattern, it becomes relatively easy to predict when the theme will play out again. Then, at a certain point, the pattern will fade and another will emerge.

Back to the goosebumps, I have found that if I practice even basic Qi Gong while activating the goosebumps, I can create a lasting tingle in my fingertips. While practicing, I have also found that I can feel the waves being directed by the motions. I am wondering if you or anyone else is able to isolate the bumps to one arm or the other, or move it down to the legs. In my practice I have recently become able to raise goosebumps near my face, which is something very new to me.

Anyways, I know that's a lot but I don't get on here often.

Joe

[beatyouonce]

Thouv I was the same way, start with Music then closing my eyes concentrating and now I can do it at will at any given time. But I've also worked out how to control where it goes, i see a lot of people saying it comes down from the back of the head and washes over them. For me at first this was the only way, now I can control it to go to one arm or one leg, or back up into my head. When I sent it back to my head I feel a heat and tingly inside my skull near the back of my head as well as goosebumps on my skull.

Also has anyone noticed that if you do this a lot you get hot? I've had instances where I've felt hot after this like i had to stop to cool down a  bit.

Also after you play around with this, that you slowly are unable to, like you run out of steam, then you wait a bit and again you can.


Seriously what is this useless ability or is it just us taking our first baby steps toward a new evolution in human history?

P.S anyone notice that it kind of wakes you up and or feels pretty good?

[Thouv]

You guys should check this out, a paper by cognitive scientist David Huron:
http://www.cogsci.msu.edu/DSS/2008-2009/Huron/HuronFrisson.pdf [nofollow]
It is very interesting.

[spardanto]

You guys should check this out, a paper by cognitive scientist David Huron:
http://www.cogsci.msu.edu/DSS/2008-2009/Huron/HuronFrisson.pdf [nofollow]
It is very interesting.

A very interesting read,i'm glad to see people are looking at this thoroughly now,the paper does a good job of including things.It's a good start but more needs to be done

I just wish we could all help in some way,who knows might find some more answers?

Don't know about you but i tended to get the impression that it was saying that those of us who can do Frission (not a word i'd heard before now but i guess i'll start using it)essentially had better acuity and perception (well within the moment we do this)

Perhaps if we summed it up our perception is more highly tuned?It'd ring true with a great many things people have stated here and have either thought they were "powers" or psychic etc.

If as it seems we are able to detect things more acutely (particularly concerning the section of sound within 3000-4000 mega hertz  as mentioned) it could account for alot.

Your thoughts people?

[Thouv]

Here's another article I found:
Grewe et al. (2007), Listening to Music as a Re-Creative Process: Physiological, Psychological and Psychoacoustical Correlates of Chills and Strong Emotions
http://musicweb.hmt-hannover.de/kopiez/Grewe-etal(2007)Chills.pdf [nofollow]

Here are some interesting passages:

Blood and Zatorre (2001) used PET to reveal the brain systems associated with chill reactions when listening to music. They found structures such as the nucleus accumbens, the ventral tegmental area, thalamus, insula, and anterior cingulate to be more active during a chill reaction, while activity in the amygdala and ventral medial prefrontal cortex was reduced.
[...]
Participants completed three character inventories: the Temperament and Character Inventory TCI, the Sensation Seeking Scale SSS-V and the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales ANPS. We compared responses from chill nonresponders and chill responders using a Mann-Whitney U test; two significant differences between the two groups were revealed. First, chill responders were less thrill and adventure seeking (SSS-V). Second, chill responders were more reward dependent (TCI).
The musical experience and habit questionnaires revealed that chill responders differed from chill nonresponders in several ways. First, chill responders indicated higher familiarity with classical music. Second, chill responders rated music as more important in their lives. Third, chill responders identified more with the music they preferred. Fourth, chill responders more readily listened to music in every day life in a situation similar to the experimental setting.
[...]
There is an interesting finding from Blood and Zatorre (2001) showing that during chills, the activity of the thalamus and the anterior cinguli is elevated. Both brain systems are involved in attention.

[Thouv]

And here is the Blood & Zatorre article mentioned in my previous message:
Blood & Zatorre (2001), Intensely pleasurable responses to music correlate with activity in brain regions implicated in reward and emotion
http://www.zlab.mcgill.ca/docs/Blood_and_Zatorre_2001.pdf [nofollow]

Some passages:

Subjective reports of chills were accompanied by changes in heart rate, electromyogram, and respiration. As intensity of these chills increased, cerebral blood flow increases and decreases were observed in brain regions thought to be involved in reward/motivation, emotion, and arousal, including ventral striatum, midbrain, amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, and ventral medial prefrontal cortex. These brain structures are known to be active in response to other euphoria-inducing stimuli, such as food, sex, and drugs of abuse. This finding links music with biologically relevant, survival-related stimuli via their common recruitment of brain circuitry involved in pleasure and reward.
[...]
The pattern of activity observed here in correlation with music-induced chills is similar to that observed in other brain imaging studies of euphoria and/or pleasant emotion.
[...]
Thus, activation of the reward system by music may maximize pleasure, not only by activating the reward system but also by simultaneously decreasing activity in brain structures associated with negative emotions.