What is ASMR? And Why is it so Popular?


You’ve heard the buzz online, but what is ASMR, anyway?

What is ASMR, Anyway?

Autonomy of sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) describes the tingling feeling that is felt when the body responds to audio or visual information.

Symptoms that occur when a person observes a specific trigger in the brain include goosebumps, tingling in the brain, relaxation, lower heart rate, and mild euphoria.

Several people experiencing ASMR responses reported that they experienced a brain orgasm or tingles as we call them in the ASMR community.

Outside of ‘brain tingles’ ASMR content on places like YouTube is just deeply relaxing, as the soft/quiet noises along with slow visuals help to ease you into a relaxing mood – which in this busy digital world we all live in is very useful.

How does the Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) work?

meaning of ASMR

When people get exposure to the right ASMR trigger, they activate the brain regions that deal with social behavior or reward systems.

What we do know, from plenty of anecdotal evidence, is that the ASMR response can create a feeling of satisfaction, calmness and help make your mood better.

Research also suggests that people who experience ASMR may also be more likely to also experience synaesthesia, a perceptual phenomenon in which one sensation triggers a separate perceptual response such as seeing sounds or tasting colors, for example.

Overall, ASMR is still being studied by scientists and researchers to better understand how and why it works. No definitive conclusions have been drawn at this time, but the research is ongoing.

Who started ASMR first?

The term “Autonomous sensory meridian response” (ASMR) was reportedly coined in 2010 by Jennifer Allen, who created a Facebook group to learn more about it.

The phrase quickly caught on as people could finally refer to the pleasurable sensation they had been feeling for years.

Who started ASMR on YouTube?

gentle whispers ASMR started ASMR on youtube

ASMR first started with a community of people on the internet who were interested in the phenomenon. One of the first people to create ASMR was a YouTuber called Gentle Whispering ASMR. GentleWhispering ASMR has been creating videos since 2011 and still uploads them to this very day to help give people brain orgasms.

ASMR has become more popular in recent years, there are more and more ASMR video creators who create content for a viewership that has been growing rapidly for the last 5 years.

Even celebrities like Cardi B and Doja Cat have conducted interviews with W Magazine whilst creating common ASMR triggers.

What is the point of watching ASMR videos?

The primary purpose of watching ASMR videos is to help give viewers the euphoric feeling of the tingling sensations in the back of their heads all the way down to their spine by exposing them to different types of ASMR triggers.

The secondary reason, and the main reason why people end up sticking around, is that this type of content is deeply relaxing. this can help with sleep issues, anxiety, and stress as well as provide an overall pleasant experience.

This is done by the ASMR creator using various techniques to trigger the tingling sensation or at the very least to put the viewer into a better mood by doing things such as soft speaking, gentle whispers, crinkling sounds, and visual stimuli like slow hand movements or close-up shots of themselves talking/singing/humming.

What is the most popular ASMR channel?

Gibi ASMR tingles

As of 2022, there are many ASMR channels that have amassed a huge following online – which have helped to popularize this somewhat unknown phenomenon.

ASMR videos are still popular even 10 years on after this trend started and it is only growing in popularity as the years go on.

The most popular ASMR artists on the YouTube platform are if you want to watch videos on ASMR:

There are thousands upon thousands of ASMRtists that perform many different ASMR triggers but these are some of the most popular. They all have at least 2million+ subscribers each and their own thriving ASMR communities to go along with it.

What does ASMR feel like?

what does ASMR tingles feel like

The Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) can cause pleasant sensations in the head and even a positive emotional response. This happens when the person is subject to a sound or movement of some sort. Many say that this tingling sensation is relaxing and enjoyable, but in most cases, it only lasts a couple of seconds.

Not everyone gets ASMR though, some people either don’t find a trigger that works for them or, just like with hypnosis, they just can’t be subject to it.

But that does not mean you cannot watch ASMR on a site like YouTube. ASMR content, regardless of whether or not you feel tingles, is deeply relaxing. Someone making gentle noises is even whispering in your ear can help quite a lot with the stresses of the day.

Why does ASMR make me feel good?

ASMR is a social reaction, which could explain its feelings of comfort, restlessness, and sleepiness. These brain activating areas have been linked with hormonal components that can help to promote these feelings.

ASMR can make you feel good because it’s a relaxing sensation, and even watching ASMR inducing videos is a deeply relaxing experience, even if you never feel the tingly sensation for yourself. Hence why millions of people (including myself) are using it as a sleep aid every night.

ASMR is still being studied by scientists, so we don’t know everything about it yet. But what we do know is that ASMR is a way to relax, de-stress, bond with the ASMR creator (which could potentially be a harmful downside), and potentially even fall asleep. If you’re looking for a way to feel good, give ASMR a try.

What is the point of ASMR?

what is the purpose of ASMR

The general point of ASMR, especially ASMR videos is to be put into a calm and relaxing state – this helps to put you in a better state of mind which can help with sleep or studying or just to feel better so that you can enjoy a game you’re playing or the music you’re about to listen to.

In terms of getting ASMR tingles, it’s honestly just something everyone is interested in – sure the tingles are awesome but the journey of getting there is far better than the 5 sec euphoria you MIGHT feel if you can find the right ASMR content to set it off.

Does ASMR have any benefits?

benefits of watching ASMR videos

This sensory phenomena can have a number of physiological effects, I’ve documented them before:

  • Positive change in mood
  • Anxiety relief
  • Depression Relief
  • Feeling less stressed
  • Better quality of sleep

These are some great mental health benefits of watching ASMR. Even if you don’t feel like you suffer from any of them, ASMR can still bring about a calming sensation that could be useful to you. So there is no harm in trying it out for yourself. Who knows, you may even find that it has some benefits that you didn’t expect whilst you get the brain waves!

Why does ASMR make you sleepy?

ASMR can make you feel sleepy because it’s a deeply relaxing experience. The combination of soft noises and warm/clam visuals come together to offer a sleepy time.

Not to mention the fact that whilst you’re watching these videos, you’re distracted by what’s on-screen – which means instead of staying up all night thinking about the world’s problems, you’re just listening to whatever the ASMRtist is saying. which makes you sleepy way easier.

So if you’re looking for a way to fall asleep, ASMR could be the answer. Just make sure to find a trigger that works for you and doesn’t keep you up all night!

Is ASMR therapeutic?

From people’s own anecdotal evidence, and from my own experience over the last 5 years of using ASMR, I would say yes, ASMR is indeed therapeutic.

Depending on the content you’re watching, there are a lot of personal attention-type videos where the ASMR creator helps you calm down from a rough day or a particularly irritating event.

And also people attribute ASMR content with helping with their anxiety, depression, and stress.

Does ASMR have any negatives?

There can be negative effects to watching too much ASMR. This can be things like hearing loss, relying on it too much to get the sleep/relaxation you need and in some cases, you might replace actual social interactions with the deeply personal attention you can get from these videos.

What does ASMR do to you?

what can ASMR do to your body and brain

ASMR can do a lot of different things to people.

ASMR experiences can make you feel more relaxed, it can help with anxiety and depression, it can even help you to sleep better at night and it can promote happiness. And of course, it can give you a tingly sensation experienced in the back of the head all the way down the spine.

What does ASMR do to your brain?

We know a little bit about what ASMR does to the brain, based on a very small study:

The researchers observed ten people who had experienced ASMR previously and put them in an fMRI machine to watch ASMR videos.

The study discovered that the ASMR participants who received the tingling sensation were linked to greater activation in brain areas associated with emotions, empathy, and affiliative behaviors. These findings are preliminary and based on a tiny sample size, but the researchers compare ASMR to caring and grooming actions, suggesting that it activates similar neurological pathways associated with social-emotional bonding.

of course, all claims are hard to make without proper empirical evidence but there is enough anecdotal there in the ASMR community to make me confident in its helpfulness.

How does ASMR affect the body?

In terms of physical feeling, ASMR can offer a tingling sensation that starts at the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and spine. This is caused by the release of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, which gives a pleasure response.

What triggers ASMR?

visual stimuli

There is no definitive answer to this question as everyone’s ASMR experiences can be different. However, some common triggers include tapping, crinkling, and whispering.

You may also find that certain sounds or movements help to trigger ASMR for you. Experimenting with different triggers is a good way to find out what works for you if you’re interested in experiencing tingles or at the very least the relaxing benefits of ASMR.

Types of ASMR triggers

As I’ve just said, there are all sorts of different triggers that can bring about the feeling of ASMR tingles or at the very least they can promote relaxation in a person.

These ASMR triggers are put into two categories: Audio and Visual Stimuli.

Both ASMR triggers can create an ASMR experience.

These two categories are expanding every day as the community grows since more and more people are experimenting and coming up with new ideas for triggers.

Check out the below list of triggers, and maybe you’ll find one that helps you to experience ASMR.

Sounds

  • Tapping sounds – This can be finger tapping on the skin or someone tapping two objects together.
  • Chewing Sounds – Chewing gum or food, in some cases, are called Mukbangs.
  • Personal Attention – This is a collective of triggers like whispering and positive affirmations.
  • Mouth Sounds – this can be kissing, lip-smacking or just general movements of the mouth.

Visuals

  • Slow Movements – This can be slow movements of the hands or objects going across the screen.
  • Hand Movements – These can be slow or fast, but generally are better when they are repetitive movements involved.

Why is ASMR content popular in the first place?

ASMR trending over time

There are a few reasons why ASMR is popular.

  1. It’s the new craze – ASMR is popular because it’s ‘the new thing’. People want to know more about it, which leads people to discover content on the web, and then it just snowballs from there.
  2. People want to know what ‘ASMR tingles’ feels like – People want to know/feel the ASMR sensation that everyone talks about.
  3. It’s a new way to cope with stress, anxiety, depression – People are looking for new ways to help ease their insomnia, depression, stress, and anxiety. Of course, there are medical options out there, but as many people have found out, ASMR can be a big help even if it just reduces the symptoms.
  4. Feel less lonely watching ASMR/Meets social needs – ASMR is also popular because of its social aspect of it. Studies have already shown that ASMR triggers the part of our brain which is associated with affiliative behaviors. And we are currently living in a modern area where the honest reality is that people are not getting enough intimate social interaction. Of course, this causes a whole host of problems such as parasocial relationships, but that’s not really exclusive ASMR video.

Finishing off

ASMR is a relatively new phenomenon, so there is still a lot of ASMR research that needs to be done in order to fully understand it. However, there is already a wealth of information available on the subject on the TinglyASMR website (the one you’re on right now).

If you are interested in learning more about ASMR, here is a list of blog articles I suggest you look at next:

Frequently Asked Questions about ASMR

Here is a list of FAQ about ASMR – this will be updated as times go on and more questions are asked about the Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response.

Is ASMR scientifically proven?

There is still much research to be done on ASMR but there have been some small studies conducted that suggest that ASMR may be beneficial for people who suffer from anxiety, insomnia, and stress. Some of these studies have shown that ASMR can decrease heart rate and induce deep relaxation. However, more research needs to be conducted in order to confirm these effects despite the vast amount of anecdotal findings.

Does ASMR release dopamine?

There is still much research to be done on ASMR and its effects on the brain but there is some preliminary evidence that ASMR may release dopamine in the brain. Studies have shown that ASMR videos activate the reward systems in our brains which are associated with dopamine release.

Does ASMR cause depression?

There is still much research to be done on ASMR and its effects but there have been no studies conducted that suggest ASMR causes or worsens depression. In fact, some small studies have shown that ASMR may be beneficial for people who suffer from anxiety, insomnia, and stress. Some of these studies have shown that the ASMR group experienced reduced heart rate and deep relaxation.

Is ASMR tactile?

ASMR is not JUST a tactile phenomenon. That is, people do not need to feel physical contact in order to experience ASMR sensations, although that can certainly happen and is usually the ‘origin story’ as to why people seek out ASMR content in the first place as they have experienced some form of tactile sensation in their childhood.

Although, some of the most popular ASMR triggers are visual (e.g. watching someone perform tasks meticulously) and auditory (e.g. listening to soft speaking or crinkling paper).

Is ASMR safe?

Yes, ASMR is considered to be a safe phenomenon. There have been no reports of adverse effects from experiencing ASMR and it is generally considered to be a relaxing and pleasurable experience.

Can ASMR be used to treat pain?

There is still much research to be done on ASMR but there have been some small studies that suggest watching certain ASMR triggers may be beneficial for people who suffer from chronic pain. One study found that ASMR was able to significantly reduce pain in participants who suffer from fibromyalgia.

While there is still much research to be done on ASMR and its effects, the preliminary evidence suggests that ASMR may be a helpful tool for managing chronic pain.

Sydney Smith

I have been experimenting with ASMR for the last 5 years, and I have been writing about it for the last 2. This website is a place for me to write about ASMR, and a tool to discover more about it - and of course to try and shed some light on what ASMR is all about so we can grow this community even more!

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