Piloerection persists throughout repeated exposure to emotional stimuli.

It is often suggested that piloerection, or goosebumps, is primarily triggered by emotional experience-theoretical perspectives place a heavy emphasis on experiencing novelty and surprise. However, the two studies described here challenge this perspective, demonstrating that the incidence of piloerection is not contingent upon exposure to novel stimuli and is disconnected from self-reported emotions. Study 1 (N = 80) shows that piloerection was not more likely to occur among individuals exposed to unfamiliar stimuli compared to those with prior exposure.

Individuals lack the ability to accurately detect emotional piloerection.

Piloerection (e.g., goosebumps) is an essential thermoregulatory and social signaling mechanism in non-human animals.