A MUSICAL RUSH

I've often been laughed at (by the wife, for one) for my tendency to cease talking, increase the radio's volume, and enjoy a particular guitar solo, riff, or section in the song currently playing in the car. However, recent research (the actual study can be found here) demonstrates that

pleasurable music induces dopamine release. The same is the case with food, drug, and sex cues. The study is from The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro at McGill University...The team at The Neuro measured dopamine release in response to music that elicited “chills,” changes in skin conductance, heart rate, breathing, and temperature that were correlated with pleasurability ratings of the music. “Chills” or “musical frisson” is a well-established marker of peak emotional responses to music. A novel combination of PET and fMRI brain imaging techniques revealed that dopamine release is greater for pleasurable versus neutral music, and that levels of release are correlated with the extent of emotional arousal and pleasurability ratings. Dopamine is known to play a pivotal role in establishing and maintaining behavior that is biologically necessary.

Perhaps this is why I get chills when I hear the note at 3:24 and tend to describe such moments as a "guitar orgasm":