[Art of ASMR]

ASMR commercials – a growing trend

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ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityIn 2015, Dove chocolate probably created the first ASMR-inspired commercial.

In 2016, more companies followed, including Pepsi, KFC, and Ritz Crackers.

And since then, the list has been growing steadily to include Ikea, Applebee’s, McDonalds, Renault, Toyota, Sony, Zippo lighters, MTV, Behr paint, and more.

I won’t say they all succeeded in making ideal ASMR-triggering videos – some definitely understood ASMR better than others.

But I think they all did succeed in highlighting their products or message in a relaxing way.  ASMR has inspired a new wave of commercials that don’t yell at you, push their products on you, demand you buy right now, and add to your daily stress.

These commercials almost seem to say, in a gentle voice, “I’m here.  You are there.  We can be together if want.  Or you can just relax, ponder it, and sleep on it.  And feel free to watch me again if you found this experience soothing.  Tomorrow’s a new day.”

Interested in viewing these low-key, relaxing commercials?

I’ve just created a new page on this website dedicated solely to ASMR-inspired commercials.  I will keep adding to the page as more are produced, so feel free to revisit it occasionally to see the list grow.

Visit the new page: ASMR Commercials

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Jimmy Kimmel features ASMR on late night talk show

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ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityJimmy Kimmel explored the curious world of ASMR videos – with the help of kids.

This week, his late night show on ABC featured a 5 minute segment of him talking to kids about ASMR.  The kids explained ASMR and they watched ASMR videos together.

I thought the kids did a great job of explaining ASMR, with enjoyable moments of amusement between the host and the kids.

I’ve added Jimmy Kimmel to my growing list below of almost 50 actors, musicians, and other well know individuals who have discussed ASMR or attempted to create ASMR triggers.

Scroll down the list below and tap on Jimmy Kimmel’s name to watch his funny ASMR round table with the kids, and tap any of the other famous names to see how they are exploring ASMR.

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Renee Frances publishes the first ASMR-inspired children’s book

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ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityRenee Frances is a children’s book author who has written the first children’s picture book to incorporate ASMR, titled “Avery Sleeps More Readily: A whispered Good Night Fairy book.”

Incorporating ASMR triggers into the content and process of reading a child a bedtime story is a fantastic idea.   Common ASMR triggers like personal attention, whispering, soft voices, light touch, picture tracing, gentle hand movements, page turning, and caring behaviors are typical stimuli that can occur when a parent or caretaker reads a child a bedtime story.

It is even possible that the origins of ASMR are rooted in most caring behaviors that happen between children and their caretakers.  Renee’s book not only reminds readers about incorporating these soothing behaviors at bedtime, but provides optimal techniques and content to help readers lull a child to sleep with a bedtime story.

The illustrations are beautifully done by Romaine Tacey and I was provided the great honor of writing the foreword.  The book will be available on Amazon on August 8, 2018, but in the meantime you can access a digital copy via the link at the end of this article.

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Published research study explores ASMR trigger preferences

/ Dr. Richard / 3 Comments

ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityI initially reported about this published study on November 1, 2017, but this article will now share more details and summarize the data.

The study is titled, “Sensory determinants of the autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR): understanding the triggers” and was published October 6, 2017 in PeerJ by Emma Barratt, Charles Spence, and Nick Davis.

Of historical note, Barratt and Davis were the co-authors of the first ASMR research study published in 2015.  In this new study they investigate some of the traits of ASMR triggers.

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Undergraduate student shares completed dissertation on ASMR, aesthetics, sensory perception, and sensory phenomena

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ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityAndrew Smith is an undergraduate student at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design at The University of Dundee, Scotland.

He focused his final year dissertation project on ASMR to fulfill the requirements for his Bachelor of Design degree (with Honors).

Andrew’s completed dissertation was 47 pages (~10,000 words), was titled, “An investigation into the interconnected nature of aesthetics, sensory perception and sensory phenomena” and weaved together the following topics:

  • ASMR
  • The Golden Rectangle (a shape linked to art, design, and architecture)
  • Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (a therapy for trauma patients)
  • Brain Wave States, Hypnosis, & REM, Sleep
  • Brain Default Mode Network & Synaesthesia
  • Interpersonal bonding
  • Senses, Sensory Processing Disorder, & Autism

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College student creates mesmerizing animations for research project about synthetic ASMR triggers

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ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityMarcus Nystrand is an undergraduate student in the Visual Communications program at Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm, Sweden.

For his graduation project he decided to create videos with synthetic ASMR triggers and survey if they are able to stimulate ASMR in viewers.

What are “synthetic ASMR triggers?”  Marcus created computer-generated animations that have some properties of ASMR triggers (e.g., movements, sounds) but without the presence of human forms (e.g., hands) or human objects (e.g., brushes).

In short, his project is asking, “Can non-human motions, items, and sounds trigger ASMR?”

His animations are extremely high quality,  very imaginative, and deeply mesmerizing.  Will they trigger your ASMR?

Read on to learn a bit more about his project, then click the link to view his amazing videos and answer his short survey questions.

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ASMR-inspired comedy coming to Philadelphia

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ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityThere has been an abundance of ASMR-inspired art forms including movies, web shows, street dancing, commercials, music, performance art, poetry, CGI animation, games, and fan fiction.

What about live comedy?

On Saturday April 6th, 2018 at 4:30 pm Rose Luardo and Shannon Fahey will present their ASMR inspired workshop, ASMRrrrRETREAT at Good Good Comedy Theatre (215 N.11th Street Philadelphia, PA).

Luardo & Fahey are Philadelphia-based comedians and artists and their live workshop is inspired by their mutual admiration for ASMR and ASMR artwork.

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Filmmaker completes production of the ASMR-inspired movie, “3AMASMR”

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ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityIn 2016, I posted an article that began, “Filmmaker begins production of the ASMR-inspired movie.”

Good news.  The movie is done and available for all to view.

The movie was created by Mike Reed who lives in Denmead, UK.   Mike also creates ASMR videos for his YouTube channel, “ASMR Show”

The working title of his movie was, “P.A.I.N.” and is now released as “3AMASMR” or you can think of the title as “3 am ASMR.”

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Student journalist writes an insider profile of the journey and perspectives of the ASMR artist, theASMRnerd.

/ Dr. Richard / 1 Comment

ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityWill Koziey-Kronas is an undergraduate student majoring in Professional Writing at the University of Toronto in Canada.

For his course, Introduction to Journalistic Investigations, he was assigned to write a profile piece.

He chose to profile ASMR through the experiences of an ASMR artist.  Will explains why,

“People who aren’t familiar with ASMR are usually fascinated by it when their introduced for the first time.  I figured a piece about an ASMR creator, written as an introduction to ASMR, would be very compelling.”

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