Science

Part 1: The first peer-reviewed publication about ASMR: Summary of the data

/ Dr. Richard / 10 Comments

ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response UniversityThe first peer-reviewed paper about ASMR has been published in the journal PeerJ.

I am highly excited about this event and very proud of the authors of this paper.

The paper is titled, “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR): a flow-like mental state” and is authored by Emma Barratt and Nick Davis. The authors are members of the Department of Psychology at Swansea University in the United Kingdom.

The publication was officially published as a peer-reviewed publication on March 26, 2015, but was initially published as a “PrePrint” on December 18, 2014.

The study was reviewed and approved by the Swansea University Department of Psychology Ethics Committee prior to the initiation of data collection.

This is such an important achievement that I will cover this event in several blog posts. This first post will simply focus on summarizing the data in the publication.

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The influence of ASMR on sleep quality: a new and simple tool.

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One of the best compliments someone can give to a new discovery is, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

I just read about a new research tool which deserves that compliment.

A group of scientists have recently published a paper in the journal PLOS ONE which describes a simple way to measure sleep quality.

Their simple idea could make research studies on the influence of ASMR on sleep quality much easier than current research methods.

This new method is so simple that I can describe it in two words:

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ASMR and the importance of sleep

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Helping people to fall asleep is one of the most widely reported uses for ASMR videos and ASMR triggers.

This is bad news because it highlights the fact that many people are having difficulty getting the right quantity and/or quality of sleep.

And yet, it is also good news because sleep is so important and ASMR could someday be widely supported by clinicians as a sleep aid.

This post will cover several recent research studies about the recommendations, challenges, and problems related to getting a proper quantity and quality of sleep.

And it will conclude with an example of how someone might construct a research study to demonstrate if ASMR can help improve sleep quality.

Lets begin with this question: Do you know how much sleep you should be getting each night?

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Research group at The University of Sheffield investigating the characteristics of ASMR

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Giulia Poerio, Theresa Veltri, Emma Blakey, and Tom Hostler are graduate students in the Department of Psychology at The University of Sheffield in the U.K.

They have combined their expertise in psychology, physiology, and emotion to investigate the idiosyncratic characteristics of ASMR.

The research group shares their motivations and several unanticipated challenges and reactions that have occurred thus far with their project.

Below are my questions in bold, followed by their replies in italics.

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Wooster College student researching the effects of ASMR on social cognition

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Amy Huffenberger is an undergraduate student in the Neuroscience department at Wooster College in Wooster, Ohio.

She is doing her senior thesis project on ASMR, under the guidance of Professor Grit Herzmann Ph.D.

Amy shares her motivations, research objectives and challenges, and also offers insightful suggestions to future ASMR researchers.

Below are my questions in bold, followed by her replies in italics.

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The science of ASMR from a BBC article

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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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How to measure oxytocin levels during ASMR

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If someone wanted to measure oxytocin levels during an ASMR experience, or compare oxytocin levels in individuals that do experience ASMR vs individuals that don’t experience ASMR – how would that be done?

There are two methods for directly measuring oxytocin.

The first method would be to measure the oxytocin in a person’s brain and spinal fluid.  The upside of this method is that these levels are probably most accurate for any effects oxytocin may be having on behavior.  The downside of this method, as you might have guessed, are the safety issues and expenses with doing this.

The second method would be to measure the oxytocin in a person’s blood.  The upside of this second method is increased safety and decreased costs compared to trying to access someone’s brain and spinal fluid.  The downside of this second method is that it is not known if the oxytocin measured in someone’s blood is an accurate reflection of the oxytocin in someone’s brain and spinal fluid.

Until now.

A recent research study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry has determined if blood levels of oxytocin are an accurate measurement of brain and spinal fluid levels of oxytocin.

The study also looked to see if the levels of oxytocin were associated with anxiety.

What did they find?

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ASMR and falling asleep

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Many individuals report that ASMR is helpful to falling asleep.  So let’s discuss what makes it so hard to fall asleep, and how a new research finding adds a new perspective.

The first major reason can be summarized as “internal stimuli”.  Your brain is receiving stimulatory signals due to things happening inside your body.  This may include stressful thoughts due to reflecting on the day’s events, signals of physical pain due to an injury or chronic disorder, or altered chemical balances due to ingestion or exposure to medications, drugs, diet, or toxins earlier in the day.

The second major reason can be summarized as “external stimuli”.  Your brain is receiving stimulatory signals due to things happening outside your body.  This may include high or low temperatures, strange or threatening smells,  physical stimulation of an uncomfortable mattress or a bug bite, or noises coming from inside or outside your immediate sleeping environment.

This last reason, noises, may be the most common type of external stimuli which inhibit us from easily falling asleep.

A new study published in a top science journal, offers an additional explanation of why this is, and may  also indicate another reason why ASMR may be so helpful to falling asleep.

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ASMR and research: a current state of affairs.

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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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