Abstract
BackgroundAutonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a sensory-emotional experience in which specific stimuli (ASMR “triggers”) elicit tingling sensations on the scalp, neck, and shoulders; these sensations are accompanied by a positive affective state. In the current research, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used in order to delineate the neural substrates of these responses.MethodsA total of 17 individuals with ASMR and 17 age- and sex-matched control participants underwent fMRI scanning while watching six 4-minute videos. Three of the videos were designed to elicit ASMR tingling and three videos were not.ResultsThe results demonstrated that ASMR videos have a distinct effect on the neural activity of individuals with ASMR. The contrast of ASMR participants’ responses to ASMR videos showed greater activity in the cingulate gyrus as well as in cortical regions related to audition, movement, and vision. This activity was not observed in control participants. The contrast of ASMR and control participants’ responses to ASMR-eliciting videos detected greater activity in right cingulate gyrus, right paracentral lobule, and bilateral thalamus in ASMR participants; control participants showed greater activity in the lingula and culmen of the cerebellum.ConclusionsTogether, these results highlight the fact that ASMR videos elicit activity in brain areas related to sensation, emotion, and attention in individuals with ASMR, but not in matched control participants.
Highlights
Individuals with Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) report experiencing tingling sensations on their scalp, neck, and shoulders—sometimes radiating down the back and limbs—during the perception of specific auditory or audiovisual stimuli (Barratt & Davis, 2015)
Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine how the neural responses to ASMR-eliciting videos differ between individuals with ASMR and a matched control group
This sample size was based on published calculations for neuroimaging studies (Desmond & Glover, 2002; Hayasaka et al, 2007) The ASMR participants were recruited from the Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada community via social media posts and word-of-mouth
Summary
Individuals with Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) report experiencing tingling sensations on their scalp, neck, and shoulders—sometimes radiating down the back and limbs—during the perception of specific auditory or audiovisual stimuli (Barratt & Davis, 2015). These “tingles” are often accompanied by a calming feeling that many individuals report as being emotionally positive (Poerio et al, 2018). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to examine how the neural responses to ASMR-eliciting videos differ between individuals with ASMR and a matched control group. Conclusions: Together, these results highlight the fact that ASMR videos elicit activity in brain areas related to sensation, emotion, and attention in individuals with ASMR, but not in matched control participants
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