The Holy Shiver: How Aesthetic Chills Calibrate the Art We’re Drawn Toward
Why do cultures, despite having no contact, converge on similar aesthetic practices that seem to serve no obvious purpose? Manvir Singh’s concept of subjective functionalism suggests that cultural forms persist because they feel good, guided by positive emotions. Our exploration of aesthetic chills—those involuntary shivers during art or insight—reveals they are not just pleasurable but signal validation of our understanding. This physiological response can even be harnessed clinically to treat depression, transforming art from mere ornamentation into a powerful instrument for cognitive calibration. Discover how these chills can reshape our relationship with culture and self.
Keep Making That Face: Your Resting Brain Already Knows How Much You Care
Keep making that face and it will stay that way. This age-old warning hints at a deeper truth: our repeated emotional states can shape who we are. But what if the reverse is true? Our latest research explores whether our brain already reveals our traits, even in moments of stillness. By analyzing resting-state brain activity, we discovered that empathy can be predicted from just six minutes of passive observation. This groundbreaking approach could transform how we measure empathy, especially in populations where traditional methods fall short. Dive into our findings and discover the potential of understanding empathy from a new perspective.
What If 23 Minutes of Light and Sound (In A Reflective Chamber) Could Melt Away Your Stress?
So what if there was something faster, simpler, and passive? One of the latest papers from IACS, published in npj Digital Medicine, explores this new innovative treatment that feels more like science fiction than science fact.
Beyond the Testing Room: Virtual Reality and Memory Testing
Get The Article PDF Cite This Work APA MLA BibTex Simonian, N., & Reggente, N. (2026, February). Beyond the Testing Room: Virtual Reality as a Paradigmatic Solution to Ecological Validity Deficits in Neuropsychological Memory Assessment. In Virtual Worlds (Vol. 5, No. 1, p. 7). MDPI. Simonian, Ninette, and Nicco Reggente. “Beyond the Testing Room: Virtual Reality as […]
Making Self-Transcendence and Transformative Insight Accessible: Using Chills-Evoking Music to Enhance Meditation
Get The Article Article PDF Cite This Work APA MLA Bibtex Christov-Moore, L., Schoeller, F., Von Guttenberg, M., Durinski, T., Jain, F. A., Iacoboni, M., & Reggente, N. Using Chills-Inducing Music to Augment Self-Transcendence, Emotional Breakthrough, and Psychological Insight During Mindfulness and Loving Kindness Meditation. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, 1589132. Christov-Moore, Leonardo, et al. “Using Chills-Inducing Music […]
The Thermodynamic Relationship Between Emotions, Motivation, and Time Perception
Get The Article Article PDF Cite This Work APA MLA Bibtex Christov-Moore, L., Schoeller, F., Von Guttenberg, M., Durinski, T., Jain, F. A., Iacoboni, M., & Reggente, N. Using Chills-Inducing Music to Augment Self-Transcendence, Emotional Breakthrough, and Psychological Insight During Mindfulness and Loving Kindness Meditation. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, 1589132. Deli, Eva, et al. “Feeling the Heat: […]