Based on your ASMR experiences…
Explain if you can stimulate or experience ASMR on command or spontaneously, include details like:
- Can you stimulate ASMR on command? If so, how do you trigger it?
- Does it ever happen spontaneously/randomly?
- Do you consider this meditation or something else?
- Do your immediate surroundings make a difference?
- How is the sensation similar or different from ASMR triggered by a video or by a real world stimulus?
Note: Sometimes self-induced ASMR is confused with self-induced frisson. If you feel chills, see your arm hairs rise up (piloerection), or experience goosebumps then you may be experiencing self-induced frisson (AKA voluntary piloerection) rather than self-induced ASMR.
- Read about frisson here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisson
- Read about voluntary piloerection here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6071615/
If you think you are experiencing self-induced ASMR (rather than self-induced frisson), then please do share your answers and experiences in the Comments section below.
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ASMR University 
Can you stimulate ASMR on command? If so, how do you trigger it?
Yes I can trigger it at will. I’m not sure exactly how I trigger it but it is pretty easy for me to do just by thinking. Like like imagining like you are pushing this energy wave the back of the head, flowing down the neck. I can trigger continuous waves of the sensation running all the way down. I does not run out like it’s a limited thing. I can repeatedly push for extended periods of time.
I feel I accidentally learned meditation when I was young and have been able to use it to do some things other people have difficulty with, like slow/stop the flow of blood from a wound, lucid dreaming to the point of being able to study/homework/solve work problems while sleeping, push away pain, push away cold and focus my thoughts. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Does it ever happen spontaneously/randomly?
No.
Do you consider this meditation or something else?
I feels like you are pushing an energy out from a point at the base of the skull.
Do your immediate surroundings make a difference?
No, I can do it walking down the street, in mid conversation, any time basically.
How is the sensation similar or different from ASMR triggered by a video or by a real world stimulus?
I have never used a video or other stimulus to trigger it. It’s always been self controlled.
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Glad to see someone wrote it just the exact way i would explain it too. At first I was like wow this is like electricity. But then i found out it’s not that uncommon thing. Im curious about it alot and im exploring for a scientific answer about this little “phenomenon”.
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Can you stimulate ASMR on command? If so, how do you trigger it?
Yes! It is an innate ability I’ve always had, triggered at the base of the skull/back of the neck that sends a surge of “energy” down my spine and to wherever in my body I want to send it.
Does it ever happen spontaneously/randomly?
Yes, when experiencing frisson. Frisson can be felt when watching videos like this:
“When people watch our videos many report experiencing a phenomenon called frisson – evoking goosebumps, tears of joy and sometimes even catharsis. Frisson is that sudden physical reaction and shudder of emotion you get with the epic moment of your favorite song or the climax of a great movie – but it’s far more than just emotion – it’s a visceral feeling of a presence beyond you. It might come with tingles and your hair might stand on end. It’s like the ring of truth – is ringing you.”
Do you consider this meditation or something else?
I meditate pretty regularly, but I have never linked this to the practice of meditation. That would be like linking milk to orange juice just because they are on the table at breakfast.
Do your immediate surroundings make a difference?
No
How is the sensation similar or different from ASMR triggered by a video or by a real world stimulus?
ASMR induced by frisson experiences is normally full body, “my cup runneth over” sensation. ASMR self-induced is like releasing an electric/tingling/energy of which there is a limited resource, and directing it to flow to different parts of my body from the base of my skull/back of my neck. The frisson induced ASMR is much more powerful, and has a deep emotional/psychological impact, (given the content of frisson inducing stimuli, this is to be expected). If I use up all of my “energy stores”, I just have to wait for maybe 15 minutes or so to “recharge” and can resume releasing energy down my spine and into my body.
I’ve released energy and sent it down to my legs, causing goose bumps probably 25 times while writing this. 😉 Please find the science behind this!!!
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Only found out the term ASMR today, nice to hear others experience it too.
Yes I can trigger it at will. Helps if the room is a little cool and I’m relaxed. I’m not sure exactly how I trigger it but it is pretty easy for me to do just by thinking. Like a gland or muscle at the back of the head, almost a like imagining like you are about to yawn or a wave of water on the back of the head, flowing down the neck but I don’t actually have to picture anything I just know the feeling and feel it, you know? It’s hard to explain. If the room is a little cool, but not uncomfortably so and I am in a relaxed state I can trigger continuous waves of the sensation running all the way down.
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Hands down, this is how I do it too. Back of the head.
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Hey! Yeah I can tingle at will.
Not sure why though. I’ve never really meditated or anything, I’m not even spiritual or religious for that matter. I’m just a random guy with a party trick you can’t use at a party 🙂
Can you stimulate ASMR on command? If so, how do you trigger it?
Yep, I can instantly will it at any time, controlling the intensity, duration and, to a degree, the location. Its basically the same thought process, and level of concentration, as flexing a muscle. You just think it, and it happens.
Does it ever happen spontaneously/randomly?
Hard question, so for now, I’ll just say maybe.
Do you consider this meditation or something else?
I do use it to help with anxiety, but its mainly just a fun thing I can do.
Do your immediate surroundings make a difference?
Not that I’ve yet noticed. Though when it’s focused in my head my senses become distorted, so I’d probably stop doing whatever else I was doing haha.
How is the sensation similar or different from ASMR triggered by a video or by a real world stimulus?
Its basically the same feeling as my externally triggered ASMR, but the control makes it seem more mechanical at times. I can have it whenever I want, so there’s no need for a build-up or anticipation. If I may be cliché, you get to your destination, but there’s no journey.
Cheers sharing, and letting me share. If you’ve got a question, i’d be happy to answer
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-Can you stimulate ASMR on command? If so, how do you trigger it?
Somewhat, yes. I trigger it by seeking out specific sounds and focusing on them. I can also trigger it by focusing on certain thoughts or memories to varying degrees of success.
-Does it ever happen spontaneously/randomly?
yes. Usually when i’m in a very relaxed environment. Sometimes I watch ASMR videos just to relax not specifically for the tingles, but the tingles will start on their own.
-Do you consider this meditation or something else?
Not meditation really. I never really thought about it. It has always just happened, and I never thought twice about since I thought it was normal.
-Do your immediate surroundings make a difference?
yes. atmosphere is important. I need to be at least somewhat comfortable.
-How is the sensation similar or different from ASMR triggered by a video or by a real world stimulus?
They are mostly the same. The physical tingles are stronger with video, though.
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