Abstract
BackgroundAutonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a cross-sensory phenomenon characterised by a static-like sensation which typically originates on the scalp and spreads throughout the body leading to a state of deep relaxation. It can be triggered by visual and auditory stimuli in real life, incidentally by various media and via intentionally created ASMR videos. Previously ASMR has been linked to a specific personality profile and this study aimed to further elucidate individual differences associated with this phenomenon.MethodsTo this effect ASMR-Experiencers and age and gender matched controls were compared on measures of flow, absorption and mindfulness.ResultsThis revealed that ASMR was associated with elevated absorption but no group differences were found with respect to the other constructs, suggesting that the ability to get deeply immersed with the current experience accompanied by loss of reflective awareness may be an important factor contributing to the experience of ASMR.
Highlights
Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a multisensory phenomenon where auditory and visual stimuli such as whisper or personal attention trigger a pleasant, staticlike tingling sensation which typically originates from the head and disperses throughout the body resulting in a relaxed state (Barratt & Davis, 2015)
Three independent-samples t -tests revealed: (i) a non-significant group difference t (104) = −0.990, p = .324, d = 0.19, 95% CI [−4.807; 1.606] between ASMR-experiencers (M = 36.49, SD = 8.16) and controls (M = 38.09, SD = 8.19) in terms of flow, (ii) a non-significant group difference on mindfulness t (246) = −0.715, p = .475, d = 0.09, 95% CI [−0.273; 0.127] between ASMR-experiencers (M = 3.20, SD = 0.80) and controls (M = 3.28, SD = 0.79), (iii) a statistically significant group difference on absorption t (246) = 4.995, p < .001, d = 0.63, 95% CI [8.979; 20.252] with ASMR-experiencers (M = 108.74, SD = 23.80) scoring higher than controls (M = 94.22, SD = 21.95)
Current results demonstrate that ASMRexperiencers show elevated absorption compared to age and gender matched controls, but no group differences were found in terms of mindfulness or flow
Summary
Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a multisensory phenomenon where auditory and visual stimuli such as whisper or personal attention trigger a pleasant, staticlike tingling sensation which typically originates from the head and disperses throughout the body resulting in a relaxed state (Barratt & Davis, 2015). These findings are interesting taking into account that for many individuals ASMR is triggered when focusing on the external triggers which resembles mindfulness practice (Fredborg, Clark & Smith, 2018) and that ASMR videos, which often entail role plays, require imaginatively transposing oneself into the virtual reality (Janik McErlean & Banissy, 2017). Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a cross-sensory phenomenon characterised by a static-like sensation which typically originates on the scalp and spreads throughout the body leading to a state of deep relaxation It can be triggered by visual and auditory stimuli in real life, incidentally by various media and via intentionally created ASMR videos. This revealed that ASMR was associated with elevated absorption but no group differences were found with respect to the other constructs, suggesting that the ability to get deeply immersed with the current experience accompanied by loss of reflective awareness may be an important factor contributing to the experience of ASMR
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