Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response

Version 2.0 of my “Origin Theory of ASMR” is now available

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I’ve updated my “Origin Theory of ASMR” to version 2.0.

It now provides much more specific answers to these questions:

  • What is the exact physiological process that mediates ASMR?
  • Which molecule is mostly responsible for the tingles?
  • Which molecule is mostly responsible for stimulating someone to watch an ASMR video for 30 minutes?
  • Which molecules are responsible for the relaxation feeling?
  • Which molecule is mostly responsible for improving mood?
  • Which molecules are contributing to helping someone fall asleep?
  • Is ASMR a sexual response?
  • Why is ASMR stimulated by strange sounds like tappings and crinkles?
  • Why can some individuals experience ASMR without any triggers?
  • Why do some individuals become immune to some ASMR triggers?
  • Why doesn’t everyone experience ASMR?
  • Why are there so many different ASMR triggers?

Continue reading →

Can ASMR help you to lose weight?

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Residents of many developed countries are having increased problems with not getting enough sleep and gaining too many pounds.

Many individuals that experience ASMR would quickly point out that ASMR helps them to fall asleep – which may be resulting in increased sleep for these individuals.

If increased sleep resulted in increased weight loss then that would be a lovely ‘two-for’ eh?

Well, some scientists believe there may be a solid connection between those two.

A recent article in USA today discussed this topic and highlighted some current science and theories that decreased sleep may be a cause of increased weight gain.  And therefore more sleep may result in more weight loss and/or less weight gain.

Sleep the pounds away?  Too good to be true? Continue reading →

Article about ASMR in the NY Times

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An article about ASMR recently appeared in the NY Times electronic blog section and in the print version on page D6.

It was a well written article authored by a woman with insomnia who accidentally stumbled on ASMR videos while hoping to find soothing videos of rustling papers.

She explains how she did find some lovely crinkling paper ASMR videos.  These videos ended up helping her with her insomnia better than several other prior treatment types.

The article provided a good overview of ASMR and mentioned some top artists like Maria of Gentle Whispering and Heather Feather.

She also talks about how many of the scientists she reached out to were reluctant to talk about ASMR.

But not all.

Continue reading →

A scientist’s view of the term “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response”

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Jennifer Allen coined the term “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response” in 2010.  Prior to this the head tingles that most people now call ASMR went by a variety of terms including brain orgasm, attention-induced head orgasm, attention-induced euphoria, that unnamed feeling, and of course, head tingles.

Is ASMR a better term than these prior terms?  Is ASMR the best term possible?  Could a better term be coined to describe this sensation?

I won’t hold my judgement until the end of this post.  I will tell you right now.

Continue reading →

ASMR and research: a current state of affairs.

/ Dr. Richard / 1 Comment

Is research being done on ASMR?

Yes, but most reports seem to be anecdotal and/or are reports of individuals intending to do research.

I have tried to flush out some researchers currently doing research on ASMR but have failed so far to connect with anyone.

This does not mean there are not any researchers.

It mostly means there are very few scientists doing research on ASMR, and more importantly, it means that I need to try a lot harder.

Has anyone completed research on ASMR?

I know of at least one example.

Continue reading →

Hand movements in ASMR videos could be helpful to learning new information

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ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversitySlow and methodical hand movements are common to many ASMR videos.

The hands may be tapping on something, demonstrating something, unboxing something, or just gliding rhythmically in the air.

And those videos can be soooo captivating.  Why is that?

Is it the tapping?  Is it the demonstration?  Is it the item being unboxed?

Well, new research suggests that perhaps it is the hands that are grabbing your attention.

Continue reading →

Could ASMR keep your brain “young”?

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ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityYes, watching one ASMR video can immediately make your brain 15 years younger.

     Really?!

No.  Sorry to disappoint you.

That is not disappointing at all to someone who is 15 years old, who wants to go back to drooling and diapers?!

Good perspective.

Do you have any real science to report today or is this just the world’s most misleading post?

Yes, I do have some real science to report today that can be related to ASMR.

OK, let’s hear it.

Continue reading →

Is there a link between experiencing ASMR and Attention Deficit Disorder?

/ Dr. Richard / 4 Comments

ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityAttention Deficit Disorder, also known as ADD, is a diagnosis made by a clinician when someone’s lack of ability to focus on appropriate topics or tasks is causing dysfunction for that person’s job, health, relationships, education, or other important life goals.

What do you call a lack of ability to focus that has not been diagnosed by a clinician and/or does not result in major life dysfunctions?

Just, attention deficiency.  Or AD for short.

So…are people who experience ASMR more likely to have ADD or AD?

Yes and No.  Let me explain.

Continue reading →

ASMR video smackdown: Bubbles vs Calligraphy

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ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityI’m not really sure what a “smackdown” is, it just seemed like a good fit in the title.

It is probably bad form to use terms that are not in my wheelhouse.

Heck, I’m not really sure what a wheelhouse is either.  Or if I have one.

Vocabulary insecurities aside, we have an ASMR video smackdown to get to.

I have selected these two videos because they both may fall into the “unintentional” ASMR video category.  This means that the videos may not have been specifically created to trigger ASMR.

Although I do think both were created to induce relaxation, so maybe they fall into a “semi-intentional” ASMR category?

Anyway, let’s get to the first contender. Continue reading →