September 13, 2026
Félix Schoeller, Leonardo Christov-Moore, Ninette Simonian et al.
preprint
Aesthetic chills, psychogenic shivers elicited by emotionally charged stimuli such as music, offer a neurophysiological marker bridging subjective experience and measurable physiology. Although neuroimaging has localized chills to reward and interoceptive circuits and behavioral work has linked them to prosocial outcomes, their electrophysiological signature and its relationship to...
BMC Psychiatry
January 10, 2024
Abhinandan Jain, Vladimir Adrien, Pattie Maes et al.
9 citations
Abstract Background Depression is a major global health challenge, affecting over 300 million people worldwide. Current pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions have limited efficacy, underscoring the need for novel approaches. Emerging evidence suggests that peak emotional experiences characterized by awe, transcendence, and meaning hold promise for rapidly shifting maladaptive...
November 22, 2023
Félix Schoeller, Abhinandan Jain, Leonardo Christov-Moore et al.
6 citations
preprint
Aesthetic chills involve pleasurable bodily sensations co-occurring with self-transcendent emotions. In this study, 94 participants were exposed to pre-validated musical stimuli with chills-inducing potential. Participants experiencing chills reported significantly greater psychological insight and emotional awareness compared to non-chills controls. Chills intensity positively correlated with...
Research Square (Research Square)
November 14, 2023
Félix Schoeller, Abhinandan Jain, Vladimir Adrien et al.
2 citations
Abstract Background Depression is a major global health challenge, affecting over 300 million people worldwide. Current pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions have limited efficacy, underscoring the need for novel approaches. Emerging evidence suggests that peak emotional experiences characterized by awe, transcendence, and meaning hold promise for rapidly shifting maladaptive...
December 21, 2022
Félix Schoeller, Abhinandan Jain, Vladimir Adrien et al.
10 citations
preprint
Aesthetic chills, a strong emotional reaction characterized by a specific bodily response of thermoregulatory mechanisms such as shivers and goosebumps, may hold scientific and clinical potential for reward-related or dopaminergic illnesses. In this first exploratory study, we examined the effects of chills stimulation on subjects clinically diagnosed with depression. Our results suggest that...