Abstract：
This research provides an in-depth exploration into the triggers and corresponding autonomic responses of piloerection, a phenomenon prevalent across various species. In non-human species, piloerection occurs in reaction to a variety of environmental changes, including social interactions and temperature shifts. However, its understanding in humans has been confined to emotional contexts. This is problematic because it reflects solely upon subjective experience rather than an objective response to the environment. Further, given our shared evolutionary paths, piloerection should function similarly in humans and other animals. I observed 1198 piloerection episodes from eight participants while simultaneously recording multiple autonomic and body temperature indices, finding that piloerection in humans can be elicited by thermal, tactile, and audio-visual stimuli with equal effectiveness. The data also revealed variations in cardiac reactivity measures: audio-visual piloerection was associated with greater sympathetic arousal, while tactile piloerection was linked to greater parasympathetic arousal. Despite prevailing notions of piloerection as a vestigial response in humans, it does respond to decreases in skin temperature and is associated with a rise in skin temperature during episodes. This research underscores that piloerection in humans is not purely vestigial, nor is it solely an affective response to emotional stimuli. Rather, it is best understood as a reflexive response to environmental changes, suggesting a shared functional similarity with other species.
摘要：
这项研究提供了一个深入的探索触发和相应的自主神经反应的绒毛勃起，在各种物种中普遍存在的现象。在非人类物种中，拔毛发生在对各种环境变化的反应中，包括社会互动和温度变化。然而,它在人类中的理解仅限于情感环境。这是有问题的，因为它只反映主观经验，而不是对环境的客观反应。Further,考虑到我们共同的进化路径，拔毛在人类和其他动物中的功能应该相似。我观察了八名参与者的1198次毛发勃起事件，同时记录了多个自主神经和体温指数，发现人类的毛发勃起可以由热量引起，触觉,和同样有效的视听刺激。数据还显示了心脏反应性测量的变化：视听毛发勃起与更大的交感神经唤醒有关，而触觉毛发勃起与更大的副交感神经唤醒有关。尽管流行的观念认为直立是人类的一种退化反应，它确实对皮肤温度的降低有反应，并且在发作期间与皮肤温度的升高有关。这项研究强调，人类的毛发勃起不是纯粹的退化，也不仅仅是对情绪刺激的情感反应。相反，最好将其理解为对环境变化的反身反应，表明与其他物种具有共同的功能相似性。
