Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response: Phenomenon That Promote Happiness

Peng Yin,Xiao Xiao

doi:10.4236/psych.2021.123021

Abstract

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) describes a tingly physical response triggered by specific visual and auditory stimuli such as whispering, personal attention, crisp sounds and slow movements. Some investigations find that ASMR is associated with specific personality traits such as openness. There also exist individual differences in functional neural connectivity across individuals who do and do not experience ASMR. The similarity and high correlation between ASMR and frisson and misophonia allow us to guess the possible formation mechanism of ASMR from the perspective of those two. The high correlation with mindfulness reveals the potential for assisting psychotherapy.

Highlights

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a sensory experience in which specific sensory stimuli elicit tingling sensations in the scalp and neck, often spreading to the back and other parts of the body
The high correlation with mindfulness reveals the potential for assisting psychotherapy
ASMR and misophonia are both responses to special patterns of sounds, but the emotions they bring are opposite: ASMR is often accompanied by positive emotions, while misophonia is negative (Rouw & Erfanian, 2018)

Summary

Introduction

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a sensory experience in which specific sensory stimuli elicit tingling sensations in the scalp and neck, often spreading to the back and other parts of the body. In addition to physiological responses, ASMR users often report positive feelings of relaxation and well-being (Barratt & Davis, 2015). ASMR is similar to some other sound-related sensory phenomena, such as frisson, synesthesia, and misophonia, but some psychological characteristics make it distinct from these phenomena. Both frisson and ASMR can be described as “pleasant tingling”, their duration is different: frisson usually occurs and spreads quickly, while ASMR has a few minutes duration. Despite ASMR and synesthesia consistently targeting specific stimuli, individuals can choose to leave the stimulus to stop ASMR while synesthesia experience is uncontrollable (Barratt & Davis, 2015). ASMR and misophonia are both responses to special patterns of sounds, but the emotions they bring are opposite: ASMR is often accompanied by positive emotions, while misophonia is negative (Rouw & Erfanian, 2018)

Triggers and Sensations of ASMR

Individual Difference in ASMR

Relationship between ASMR and Other Similar Psychological Phenomena

Conclusion