Two Studies of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR): The Relationship between ASMR and Music-Induced Frisson

Abstract

In recent years, a widely popular phenomenon has emerged as exemplified in thousands of videos available on the Internet. Referred to using the impressive sounding term "Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response" (abbreviated ASMR), followers claim that ASMR videos evoke a special "tingling" sensation that is regarded as highly pleasurable and relaxing. The popularity of this phenomenon is reflected in individual ASMR videos receiving more than 43 million views and a reddit ASMR forum with over 130,000 subscribers. Two exploratory studies are reported. In the first study, a content analysis was carried out on 30 popular ASMR videos, and compared with 30 videos employing two different control methods. In the second study, a content analysis was carried out on 3,600 comments on discussion forums and accompanying ASMR videos. The results indicate that ASMR videos typically employ a quiet, private scene, with a relaxed, friendly, and intimate actor ("ASMRtist"). Although ASMR is evoked by non-musical stimuli, the physiological responses to ASMR (skin-related tingling and goosebumps) strongly resemble the classic frisson experience—a phenomenon that has received considerable attention among music perception researchers. Careful consideration of ASMR stimuli and responses suggest that ASMR is consistent with Huron's (2006) theory of frisson.

How everyday sounds can trigger strong emotions: ASMR, misophonia and the feeling of wellbeing

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Although there are many ASMR-inducing videos on the internet (some with millions of views), there is limited scientific understanding of the phenomenon. [1][2][3][4][5] Two surveys found that among the most common triggers were whispering, "crisp sounds", people speaking softly, and soft touching of hair or face. [1,4] The cardinal feature of ASMR videos is an auditory stimulus, often recorded in stereo.…”

“…In ASMR certain "trigger" stimuli evoke feelings of calm and relaxation, together with a pleasant tingling sensation that typically starts in the scalp, head and shoulders and spreads down the spine and into the limbs. [1][2][3][4][5] Although there are many ASMR-inducing videos on the internet (some with millions of views), there is limited scientific understanding of the phenomenon. [1][2][3][4][5] Two surveys found that among the most common triggers were whispering, "crisp sounds", people speaking softly, and soft touching of hair or face.…”

“…Most people with ASMR date first experiencing it to childhood and claim it can relieve pain, depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia. [1,5] ASMR triggers produce both a fall in HR and a rise in skin conductance response (SCR). [4] While a fall in HR suggests a parasympathetic swing, a rise in SCR is associated with sympathetic activation, which is a contradiction that is discussed further in Section 4.2.…”

“…Recent reports have highlighted two anomalous conditionsautonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) and misophonia-in which certain everyday sounds involuntarily generate strong emotional reactions. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Notably, these reactions are not readily explained by any physical properties of the sounds themselves. We propose that in individuals with these conditions there is atypical "synesthetic" cross-activation of the insula by the auditory cortex.…”

A Vigilance Explanation of Musical Chills? Effects of Loudness and Brightness Manipulations

“…Increases in brightness may reflect similar auditory looming mechanisms: As lower frequency sound waves are absorbed less and generally travel further than those at higher frequencies, increasing ramps of higher frequency energy may act as a spectral analogy for auditory looming and decreased proximity between listener and event. Notably, Kovacevich and Huron (2018) recently proposed a vigilance account of the related autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) phenomenon (Barrett & Davis, 2015), often elicited by whispering sounds that imply proximity and are characterized by high brightness. However, this appears less intuitive than the link between auditory looming and loudness, and brightness has yet to receive empirical support in broader auditory looming research; an alternative possibility is that the existing correlations between chills and brightness are mediated by different, underlying psychological mechanisms.…”