Research

The science of ASMR from a BBC article

/ Dr. Richard / 1 Comment

An article about ASMR was posted yesterday at BBC.com.

The article focuses mostly on ASMR artists (Emma whispersredasmr, Maria gentlewhispering, & Laura Stone) and the art of ASMR, with some minor mentions related to the science of ASMR.

A neuroscience professor provided his thoughts about the mechanism of ASMR.  Quote from the article:

“Frances McGlone, professor of neuroscience at Liverpool John Moores University. I contacted him because I hoped he might be able to explain the mechanism which produces such a distinctive physical reaction from such a diverse range of stimuli. He couldn’t, because no-one has researched the question. “In a quick look on the more respected search engines for published scientific research I couldn’t find anything that supported a neurobiological basis for why these sensory experiences should be provoked by observing these ASMR videos,” he tells me.

McGlone further expressed concern about home-brewed alternative therapies in general and a potential erotic element of ASMR.  Quote from the article:

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ASMR data from website polls

/ Dr. Richard / 3 Comments

My co-investigators and I are still collecting data for our on-going ASMR research survey (information about that research survey HERE).

But I do have some data to share from my website polls.

Below are responses from visitors to this site who answered the polls on the “First Time Visitor?” page.  There were 130-161 respondents for each question.

The majority of poll takers:

  • experience ASMR
  • report that ASMR helps them to feel less stressed or helps them to fall asleep
  • have watched over 100 ASMR videos
  • have not created an ASMR video
  • are between 20-39 years old
  • experienced ASMR before the age of 13
  • first learned about the term ASMR in 2013 or 2014
  • did not know other terms for the experience prior to learning the term “ASMR”
  • think ASMR is a real biological response
  • would like to  see more research done about ASMR

If you would like to see the full data from the polls, including which responses were least selected, then keep reading.

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The ASMR Survey has launched

/ Dr. Richard / Leave a comment

Interested in participating in some ASMR research?

I am collaborating with members of asmr-research.org on an on-line survey that may be the first published, global, demographic study about ASMR.

The survey is not only for those who experience ASMR, but it also for those who don’t experience ASMR or may not even know if they do experience ASMR. Comparing these different groups of people will help us to understand ASMR even better.

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Can the light from an ASMR video interfere with sleep?

/ Dr. Richard / 1 Comment

Using a laptop, tablet, or phone at bedtime is pretty common these days.  And watching an ASMR video to help relax the brain before nodding off is becoming even more common.

But there could be a problem with this method of relaxation.

Several studies have shown that being exposed to light from a computer screen at bedtime can interfere with sleep onset and/or sleep quality.

So how do computer screens interfere with sleep?

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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.

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