You may have come across the term “ASMR” at least once, particularly if you’ve been on certain corners of social media. Be it TikTok, Instagram, or even YouTube, ASMR videos have been all the rage.
Tapping, scratching, whispering, chewing—ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) videos involve a wide range of audio or video that make your senses tingle with satisfaction. They have provided much-needed solace in an otherwise overstimulating digital world.
The wonderful sensation delivered by ASMR may also have health benefits associated with mood, cognition, heart rate, and more.
Let’s explore all there is to this trend!
What Is ASMR?
ASMR refers to the sensation that you feel when interacting with certain stimuli. This could include visuals, sounds, and close contact with another individual or animal. People describe it as a tingling or goosebump-like sensation.
While ASMR first became popular on YouTube, it has made its way across other platforms, too. You will now find all kinds of ASMR videos on Instagram and TikTok.
Some types of ASMR videos include:
- Packaging or unpacking videos that include crinkling sounds
- People chewing food and drinking beverages
- Tapping long acrylic nails on different surfaces
- Squashing different items under an industrial press
- Videos of natural phenomena, such as bubbling streams
- Painting or gaming videos that encourage a flow-like state
ASMR has been a long-running phenomenon, although it has only garnered significant online attention in the last few years. In fact, 20% of the population is said to experience ASMR in some way.
What Does ASMR Mean In Healthcare?
In a brain scan study conducted by Dr. Richard and his colleagues, they found out that the physiological effects of an ASMR trigger involved specific areas of the brain becoming more active.
ASMR triggers encompass a wide range of relaxing physical sensations, sounds, and visuals. This stimuli activates the areas of the brain associated with social engagement, and which control empathy and emotions.
It also causes the brain to release neurohormones, such as endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin. These are typically associated with feelings of comfort, relaxation, and sleepiness.
While the research is still relatively recent, ASMR is said to play a significant role in enhancing healthcare.
It offers several benefits:
- Improvement in mood: ASMR encourages a flow-like mental state and has been found to improve mood after exposure to stimuli.
- Relieves pain: Exposure to ASMR can provide relief from chronic pain up to three hours later.
- Enhances concentration: Because ASMR can put you in a flow-like state, it can enhance concentration. It eliminates distractions, so you won’t lose track of time. You can enter a “zone” where you can focus solely on whatever is at hand.
- Improves sleep: ASMR can be used for inducing sleep as it promotes theta brainwaves and encourages relaxation. It can thus help relieve insomnia.
ASMR is a complex sensory-emotional experience and can thus have many health-related benefits, particularly for those with mood disorders, anxiety, chronic pain, and insomnia.
It can also help with other conditions, such as:
ADHD Symptoms
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is typically characterized by impulsive behavior, hyperactivity, and difficulty maintaining attention. Meditation and mindfulness exercises have been found to aid in this, and ASMR-induced flow-states may also help to reduce ADHD symptoms.
Autism Spectrum
ASMR can provide cognitive and emotional assistance to individuals on the autism spectrum as it helps reduce stress and anxiety. ASMR can also enhance self-regulation and calm or soothe an individual after an episode or during overstimulation.
However, one of the one of the negative effects of ASMR is that it can further cause overstimulation in individuals with misophonia or phonobhobia.
What Are the Physical Effects of ASMR?
ASMR is typically described as a tingling feeling that starts in the head and moves down the back of the neck, leaving the whole body relaxed and “loose.” It is also described as a sense of calm that starts at the scalp and washes over the rest of the body gradually. It has also been linked to synesthesia, defined as “experiencing more than one sense simultaneously.”
Dr Craig Richard, an ASMR expert, has also described the feeling as “a wonderful brain fuzziness and relaxation.” He first experienced it while watching Bob Ross – The Joy of Painting as a child.
The pleasant sparkly feeling or chills is also said to move in waves and become more intense with time. This is a form of paresthesia, which refers to different sensations experienced in the skin, including prickling, itching, numbness, burning, and pins and needles.
There are two categories of ASMR: intentional, whereby individuals seek out ASMR triggers, and unintentional, where the ASMR response occurs randomly after unintended exposure to a stimulus.
Does ASMR Damage Brain Cells?
Considering how relaxing ASMR is and its ability to “shut down” your thoughts with the added pleasant tingling sensation, you may wonder if it is killing off your brain cells.
Fortunately, that is not the case. The intense sense of calm and relaxation does not happen because your brain cells are dying. In fact, it is because certain areas of your brain are being activated!
ASMR triggers have been shown to activate the nucleus accumbens, insular cortex, inferior frontal gyrus, and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex—all regions associated with emotional arousal and rewards.
Essentially, ASMR releases endorphins, which help ease stress and pain relief, and dopamine, which triggers the brain’s reward system and leads to pleasure. It also releases oxytocin, known as the love hormone, and enhances feelings of relaxation and comfort.
All of these contribute to the overall benefits and calming effects of ASMR.
Final Thoughts
ASMR is a great way to relax if you are feeling stressed, feel physical pain, or even struggle with going to sleep.
The adverse effects of ASMR are typically associated with overstimulation, misophonia, or phonophobia. But its benefits are many: it can aid in conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, chronic pains, and cognitive issues. It can also help boost your mood and reduce feelings of sadness.
So, if you’re looking to experience the benefits of ASMR, you’ll be happy to know that there are many videos out there, and there is no limit to what you may find!
References
https://www.healthline.com/health/autonomous-sensory-meridian-response
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00221-022-06377-9
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0262668
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK453209/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/ASMR
https://neurosciencenews.com/asmr-physiology-9426/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1025745/full
https://juniperpublishers.com/pbsij/pdf/PBSIJ.MS.ID.555859.pdf