Brisk breezes, scary stories, and touching tunes may not have much in common. But there's one thing they can all do: give people goosebumps.
But why? And how?
Humans can thank their ancient ancestors for this hair-raising phenomenon. Back when our relatives had long body hair, cold weather would make all their hairs stand straight up. This reflex gave them an extra layer of toasty warmth. Over time, humans evolved to be less furry, but the reflex remained.
Every mammals' body hair stands up in the cold. But since modern humans aren't covered with thick hair, the reflex lost its usefulness in people. Instead of a fluffy coat to block the chill, humans today just get bumps on their skin caused by the contraction of the tiny muscles attached to each hair. When the muscles contract, they pull the skin underneath the hairs inward. This makes the surrounding skin look bumpy.
Frigid air isn't the only thing that makes hair stand on end. Many animals' hair or fur stands up when they sense danger. And animals with puffed-up hair appear larger, which is useful when trying to scare away a threat. Creepy places, horror movies, and chilling stories can make humans' hair stand up, too. There's just not enough hair on people today for any increase in size that might make a person look menacing.
Some people also get goosebumps in other emotional situations, like weddings, concerts, and sporting events. Even long after an emotional event takes place, strong memories can trigger the reflex that makes our skin look like that of a plucked goose.
No matter what sets off the goosebumps, though, the root cause is always the same: adrenaline.
Adrenaline is a stress hormone released by the body for any number of reasons. Cold? Blame adrenaline. Freaked out? Adrenaline. Stressed, excited, angry? You guessed it—adrenaline. The hormone triggers the skin muscle contractions that cause goosebumps. It's also responsible for the sensation many people feel in their gut on a roller coaster, or in other exciting or dangerous situations. It's that feeling known as "butterflies in the stomach."
QUESTION 4
4 / 4
The article states:
Animals with puffed-up hair appear larger, which is useful when trying to scare away a threat.... There's just not enough hair on people today for any increase in size that might make a person look menacing.
Which is the closest synonym for the word menacing?
dangerous
sincere
awkward
invisible