A cold chill (also known as chills, the chills or simply thrills) is described by David Huron[ clarification needed ] as, "a pleasant tingling feeling, associated with the flexing of hair follicles resulting in goose bumps (technically called piloerection), accompanied by a cold sensation, and sometimes producing a shudder or shiver." Cold chills are a purely subjective response and, unlike piloerection, no objective physiological measure of cold chills exists. Unlike shivering, however, it is not caused by temperature, but rather is an emotionally triggered response [1] when one is deeply affected by things such as music, [2] [3] speech, or recollection. It is similar to autonomous sensory meridian response; both sensations consist of a pleasant tingling feeling that affects the skin on the back of the neck and spine.[ citation needed ]
However, cold chills should not be confused with piloerection. Recent research has shown that self-reported chills do not correspond with observable piloerection, [4] suggesting that they are independent phenomena.
