Why We Get Goosebumps?

Our body trembles when it feels cold, which is beneficial in the evolutionary process: uncontrolled shaking can encourage muscles to produce heat. But, have you ever thought about why we get goosebumps?

The latest research provides an answer: Regulating stem cells to control the growth of hair follicles and hair!

In animal experiments, scientists found that when goose bumps occur, the contraction of certain muscles is related to the sympathetic nervous system. When cold is felt, these muscles bridge the gap between sympathetic nerves and hair follicles.

In the short term, it will make hairs stand upright. In the long run, it seems to promote hair growth. Researchers say this is an important link between stem cells and external stimuli from the body.

Ya-Chieh Hsu, a biologist from Harvard University, said: “The skin is a fascinating system. There are multiple stem cells surrounded by many different types of cells, and they are located on the interface between the body and the outside world. Therefore, its stem cells may respond to various stimuli. In this study, we found an interesting dual-component niche that can not only regulate stem cells in a steady state, but also modulate stem cells behaviors according to temperature changes outside."

The team of researchers used high-resolution electron microscopy to identify this hair-growth regulation system, which involves the three types of tissue found in many organs: nerves (the sympathetic nerve), mesenchyme (holding the small muscles), and epithelium (the hair follicle stem cells).