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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask if you’re one of the 1 in 1499 people that can do this?

160 replies

SoniaFouler · 26/10/2021 00:48

It’s called Voluntarily Generated Piloerection (VGP)—the ability to consciously give one’s self goosebumps. I’ve never met anybody else in real life that can do this so thought surely there must be at least one other person on here who can! If you can, how do you trigger yours? Mine is a form of what I can only describe as electric energy at the back of my head which I force down the entire length of my spine, I do it about two or three times rapidly one after the other and the skin on my arms, legs and chest immediately flare up with really strong visible goosebumps Confused - almost like a plucked chicken Blush The example given in the article says the guy moves his head from side to side to trigger it but i do it completely still, just concentrating on making my muscles send the sensation down my back.

Please join me, fellow freaks of nature:

A mammal’s hair follicle clings to the skin via a tiny muscle. When this muscle contracts, the hair will stand, the skin around it will undergo bump-shaped distortion, and voila—goosebumps.

For the 1499 people in this statistical metaphor, goosebumps are completely involuntary. The tiny muscle, called the arrector pili, is made of smooth muscle fibers. And like other smooth muscles of the body—those that handle digestion, blood flow, respiration, and so on—they are unconsciously regulated. The nerves attached to them lie in the autonomic nervous system, the part of the nervous system dedicated to managing bodily functions you aren’t supposed to control consciously, like heart rate or pupil dilation.

www.mentalfloss.com/article/622399/people-can-control-their-goosebumps

OP posts:
Dacquoise · 26/10/2021 17:37

No can do but looking at the Flaming June painting by Leighton make my mouth salivate. Think it's the orange colour.

Soundofshuna · 26/10/2021 17:37

I can too!

ChargingBuck · 26/10/2021 18:01

Cheers OP - didn't know I could do this until you said it was A Thing!

I don't get full visible goosebumps, but it's early days yet Wink & your explanation of
as electric energy at the back of my head which I force down the entire length of my spine, I do it about two or three times rapidly one after the other and the skin on my arms, legs and chest immediately flare up
makes perfect sense!

[pretentiousness alert ON] It happens with much-loved music or exceptional prose too ... [pretentiousness alert OFF] - I can kind of will the sensation on via the sounds/words, & that usually ends up with proper goosebumps.

Is this stuff ASMR all related do you think?

canigooutyet · 26/10/2021 18:02

I think the figures must be off as well.
I can think goosebumps, orgasm, gag, smells, colour, control my own body heat and make myself look and sound ill.

Was a child when I realised I could self gag. Had loads of fun with gag and making myself looking ill at school to get out of lessons. And as an adult to get some sick days lol.

Cannot remember faces or any features of people including my own children. That was a massive pita when one of my dc's went missing a few years ago and was unable to describe them - face, height, piercings etc. From then everytime I take a picture I update their details on the image

Love smell recall, as long as my mind isn't too active I can smell things on whatever program I am watching as long as I have actually smelt it. I often use this as a coping method when my mh is annoying me as I can day dream and feel like I'm actually there.

Oh and I can control dreams. Pull myself out of bad ones. Carry on where I left off on others. Dream about what I want. Decide if I want lucid ones of not. I just have to start thinking about specific things before I go to sleep. Learned how to control dreams as a child as I would have really horrific ones. Started doing first by learning how to control my day dreams.

ChargingBuck · 26/10/2021 18:02

[quote Iveputmyselfonthenaughtystep]Dammit. Had to go Google because it was annoying me. Asmr is the thing.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASMR[/quote]
Oho! - thank you @Iveputmyselfonthenaughtystep :)

ChargingBuck · 26/10/2021 18:11

@Notjustanymum

I can do this, and in the same way OP describes. I think it’s a residual reflex action from ancient times, and it relaxes my neck and back.
I do too, & have been wondering how it might be related to eg dogs' ability to hackle-raise. (Goosebumps are said to be vestigal remnants of our own ability to 'bristle' at threats).

I'm not a dog expert, but observation has shown me that hackling can be both involuntary & at will ... don't know if all dogs can do it voluntarily though.

BiscuitLover09876 · 26/10/2021 18:14

This is insane and never heard it before! No I definitely cannot but I have been trying for a good 10 mins now.

ChargingBuck · 26/10/2021 18:15

#selfdevelopment Wink

I know, right @Squirrel26!? Grin Grin Grin

What a cracking thread, there have been at least a dozen PP I want to respond to in hilarity or astonishment ... but it's not my thread.
So I'll just be here, quietly reading, & ...goosebumping to self :)

ChargingBuck · 26/10/2021 18:20

@AthelstaneTheUnready

I can't do the goosebump thing, but I can warm my hands up by concentrating on them. From seriously icy numb to glowing in about 30 seconds. Really useful on cold walks/sleeping out.

Not very good at feet.

Oh I can't resist responding to this @AthelstaneTheUnready it's fascinating!

Your noble ancestors are probably the tribe responsible for all the myths & legends about 'healing hands' ... :)

ChargingBuck · 26/10/2021 18:23

@Spanielsarepainless

I can burp on command...
Grin Grin Grin

This is a lofty ambition, which I trust PP will now all aspire to @Spanielsarepainless.

But the real test is ... can you burp the first line of "God Save The Queen", without hesitation, repetition, or, um the other thing?

WakeUpLockie · 26/10/2021 18:27

Ooh I just did it!! I can also orgasm without touching myself 🤣

ChargingBuck · 26/10/2021 18:28

@SmileyClare

Fair play to the poster who can orgasm just by thought, but why would you want to give yourself goosebumps? It's not a nice feeling, I associate it with feeling horribly cold.

Do you regularly force yourself to have goosebumps? Confused

Google ASMR @SmileyClare - it should give you the gist of how & why it's pleasurable to some folk.

Can't speak for other's experiences, but for me, it's a shivery but delicious feeling, & afterwards, feels kind of like I've pressed a body re-set button.
Like after a satisfying yawn, except ... not. More like some refreshing magic substance has passed over my upper body. Definitely endorphin-releasing.

cuttlefishgame · 26/10/2021 18:31

@ViceLikeBlip

I'm not sure I really can do this entirely deliberately, but just reading this post and thinking about goosebumps has given me goosebumps 🤷‍♀️
Me too! I can do it deliberately as well though.

I can also purposely get cramp in my toes. It hurts... but in a nice way. That's weird isn't it?

ChargingBuck · 26/10/2021 18:33

@CinnamonJellyBeans

I can make the hairs on the back of my head stand up by thinking of something very profound such as Albert Einstein saying "If I have seen further, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants" i.e. Newton et al. Or that famous photo of the German woman running towards the wall of water to get her kids in 2004. Or even just thinking of a very good piece of music.

It feels very uncomfortable and is happening as I type.

@CinnamonJellyBeans, ta, just reading the Einstein quote gave me a version of goosebumps ... sorry your version isn't enjoyable!

Mine gives physical sensations as droned on about above, but also seems to be connected to a sense of wonder or awe.
And the mental after-effect is a pleasing jolt of lingering wonder or awe - sort of like a near-involuntary Gratitude Exercise.

AthelstaneTheUnready · 26/10/2021 18:33

AthelstaneTheUnready

I can't do the goosebump thing, but I can warm my hands up by concentrating on them. From seriously icy numb to glowing in about 30 seconds. Really useful on cold walks/sleeping out.

Not very good at feet.

Oh I can't resist responding to this @AthelstaneTheUnready it's fascinating!

Your noble ancestors are probably the tribe responsible for all the myths & legends about 'healing hands' ... smile

Grin @ChargingBuck noble ancestors Grin
Never healed anyone to my knowledge, but my cats used to like it, and my mother used to ask for my hand when we were out on the hills. More of a portable heater, really.

Tittyfilarious81 · 26/10/2021 18:40

I can do it Grin

SmileyClare · 26/10/2021 18:46

..delicious. like some magical substance has passed over my upper body. Definitely endorphin releasing

Wow, I can't do this and now I am jealous! And it's free! Grin ..

Hopeisallineed · 26/10/2021 18:46

Turns out it’s not that special after all! 😂

Sideorderofchips · 26/10/2021 18:49

Yes everytime I imagine wet cotton wool or wet wool 🤢

SmileyClare · 26/10/2021 18:49

I often get goosebumps and feeling like the hair on my head is standing up when I'm ill with a high temperature so just associate the feeling with being ill Sad

I'm amazed some people get such pleasure from this!

Evenstar · 26/10/2021 19:08

I can give myself goosebumps by thinking about certain textures, sandpaper, pumice stones and bricks. I have had continuous goose bumps since opening this and thinking about them though 🥶

Flareyairy · 26/10/2021 19:31

Yep sorry I can do it too..it appears it's actually rarer NOT to be able to do it!!

IHateCoronavirus · 26/10/2021 19:33

I’d really love to know if my son’s voice (at certain angles from behind) would also zap the rest of you goosebumpers.
Do any of you become immobilised by low frequency sounds from behind? I’m wondering if it is linked as it feels the same just more extreme and painful.

thecatsthecats · 26/10/2021 19:41

I think I can, but I'm freshly defloofed, so will have to wait.

I can deliberately unfocus my eyes at will, ripple my tongue and make my pecs (read: tits) dance, so it would be good to add another party trick.

stillcrazyafterall · 26/10/2021 19:43

I can stop hiccups on demand! Can't give myself goosebumps though.

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