Self-Transcendent Pro-Social Effects and Neurophysiological Signatures of Aesthetic Chills
Poster No:
2016
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Leonardo Christov-Moore1, Felix Schoeller1, Ninette Simonian1, Nicco Reggente1
Institutions:
1Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, Santa Monica, CA
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
Aesthetic chills have come under increased scrutiny as a potentially potent "technodelic", i.e. a non- pharmacological route to altered states associated with religious, mystical or psychedelic transformative experiences. We have previously reported the mood-augmenting, belief-altering, self- transcendent, pro-social effects of aesthetic chills (henceforth "chills"), whether evoked solely by audiovisual means (Christov-Moore et al., 2024, Jain et al., 2025, Schoeller et al., 2023), or in combination with a chills- augmenting wearable prosthetic "frisson" device (Haar et al., 2020, Figure 1). Separately, multiple studies have examined the neural correlates of chills (reviewed in Schoeller et al., 2024). However, no study to date has examined both (i) the neurophysiological features marking live-reported augmented and non-augmented chills onset and intensity, and (ii) downstream effects on mood, self-transcendence, and pro-social behavior; within a single study in a large (n=120) cohort.
Methods:
In 120 on-site participants, we compared frisson device-augmented (+) and non-augmented (-) aesthetic chills arising from three audio stimuli from the Chills DB database (Schoeller et al., 2023). Participants first reported on their demographic characteristics, political orientation, religiosity, meditative experience, trait absorption, and big five personality traits. One week later, they were outfitted with a 64-channel EEG headset and physiological peripheral sensors, and asked to close their eyes and listen to three validated chills-eliciting stimuli, while reporting on the onset and intensity of chills using a clicker device. All participants wore the Frisson device (Figure 1), though it was active in one group. For these participants, the device delivered cold sensations down their spine at precise moments in each song - moments that previous listeners had identified as peak "chills" experiences. Afterwards, they reported on their mood, emotional break-through, psychological insight, and felt self- transcendence (ego-dissolution, connectedness, and moral elevation). They then carried out an ecologically- valid modified Dictator Game, as well as a moral dilemma questionnaire.
·Figure 1. Frisson Wearable Prosthetic
Results:
Initial results showed that 62-75.5% of participants had chills for each of the three stimuli. The amount of chills that participants experienced (from 0 to 3, each stimulus has a yes/no prob), was highly correlated with emotional breakthrough, psychological insight, and the self transcendence measures (moral elevation, ego dissolution, connectedness)(Figure 2). The frisson device had a trending effect, but not significant. Linear and nonlinear EEG analyses were conducted to examine similarities to other non-ordinary states e.g.. psychedelics
·Figure 2. Downstream effects of Aesthetic Chills. PSI = Psychological Insight, EBI = Emotional Breakthough, SMES = Moral Elevation, EDI = Ego-Dissolution, WCS = Connectedness
Conclusions:
Aesthetic chills appear to be a replicable, measurable phenomenon, both subjectively and in neurophysiological data, with robust downstream effects on phenomenological and behavioral measures associated with the elusive and desirable altered states associated with psychedelics and mystical/religious experience. We have also examined whether expected EEG features typical of these altered states also characterize chills, and whether the extent of their appearance predicts the magnitude of downstream effects, as predicted by contemporary theories of belief-change under psychedelics (e.g. Carhart-Harris et al., 2014, Safron et al., 2020). These data provide important grounding for the specific use of aesthetic chills as a robust technodelic, and further ground transformative experience within the science of palliative belief-change, with implications for novel approaches to mental health and wellbeing.
Brain Stimulation:
Non-Invasive Stimulation Methods Other 2
Higher Cognitive Functions:
Music
Modeling and Analysis Methods:
Methods Development
Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:
EEG
Perception, Attention and Motor Behavior:
Consciousness and Awareness 1
Keywords:
Cognition
Consciousness
Electroencephaolography (EEG)
Emotions
Preprint
Other - Aesthetic chills
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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Provide references using APA citation style.
Reed, P. G., & Haugan, G. Self-transcendence: A salutogenic process for well-being. In G. H. et. al. (Ed.), Health Promotion in Health Care–Vital Theories and Research. Springer. 2021; pp. 103–115.
Schoeller, F., Christov-Moore, L., Lynch, C., & Reggente, N. (2023). ChillsDB 2.0: Individual Differences in Aesthetic Chills Among 2,900+ Southern California Participants. Scientific Data