Thread: ASMR - Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response

Let's talk about ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) here, so the happy and cheerful thread won't be saturated with it, because it seems to be a topic with various opinions on what it really means.

Someone was going to make a thread like this, but they had to go, so I made it for them.

I usually feel amazing sensations when listening to music with nice and smooth beats to them, and if I watch an animated music video, if the person who made the video syncs it well, I could just repeat the video with the song over and over until I can't take it anymore.

What are your thoughts and experiences? Do you believe ASMR is a valid term for the sensation tingling from head to spine?

Let's discuss here.

ASMR, although a dubious a naming, is not really that fluid a thing. Some people experience it, some people don't. I can't remember ever not experiencing it.

Also, judging from what you're saying, you are not experiencing ASMR, but frisson.

Personally I get ASMR sensations from watching people do things meticulously, such as drawing something very slowly, constructing something delicate or giving a massage. Also get it from massages and generally people lightly touching me. It's an incredibly hard to describe sensation, 'tingling of the scalp/brain' really is the best way.
Very specific sounds can also do it for me. Here is an interesting video that works for some people.



Actually watch it, don't just listen. Use headphones. Focus on the video and the video only. Turn down the volume a little bit if it's too loud.

edit: And ASMR generally, it's an interesting thing. It's not scientifically explored in any way, which suggests it's new or rare, possibly both.

Come to think of it, I wonder how ASMR mixes with lucid dreams. That should be my goal.

Is ASMR this weird relaxed feeling in ones head?

This is probably the best article I've read on it.

ASMR: What is This Tingling Sensation in my Head?

But keep in mind, the "ASMR" name is kind of weird. Most people want to do away with it, but it's just kind of stuck.

Originally Posted by Linkzelda

Someone was going to make a thread like this, but they had to go, so I made it for them.

That was me

Anyway... i don't seem to get ASMR from watching a video of something done meticulous... I only seem to get it from certain songs, sounds and i can also induce it myself... but that's weaker than when it's induced by an external factor. But the longer i induce it myself, the more powerful it gets.

I haven't really tried it with whispering, but maybe that would work too... i have some blurry memories like that... but i doubt that a video would do it for me. I guess it would work out if that whispering would be in real life. Maybe even the meticulous activities would affect me in real life.

Originally Posted by Marvo

Come to think of it, I wonder how ASMR mixes with lucid dreams. That should be my goal.

Read my latest DJ entry, i tried it yesterday
Althrough i didn't describe it too much, so if you want to ask something about it, just feel free to

Originally Posted by littlezoe

That was me

Of course I knew it was you, I just don't like calling people out like that when making a new thread, since it'll be stuck in the forums for years for other people to see later on.

As for the whispering, I think I should look up on that, I think Wolfwood likes the thought of someone whispering, even if he doesn't know what they're saying (correct me if I'm wrong Wolfwood).

But again, with what Marvo said with Frisson, it could be just that instead.

Originally Posted by Linkzelda

Of course I knew it was you, I just don't like calling people out like that when making a new thread, since it'll be stuck in the forums for years for other people to see later on.

As for the whispering, I think I should look up on that, I think Wolfwood likes the thought of someone whispering, even if he doesn't know what they're saying (correct me if I'm wrong Wolfwood).

But again, with what Marvo said with Frisson, it could be just that instead.

Yep - I don't have to understand the words. I think the common underlying aspect in most triggers is that you're absorbed or concentrating on what's going on. It is difficult to separate the two in description.... until you feel it, then it's obvious. ^_^

Watching someone do something meticulous, having my hair cut, and women whispering does it to me.




She sums up the difference between ASMR and Frisson....in an ASMR-triggering way. ^_^ And yeah, mirror-touch synaesthesia is related to ASMR as it allows what you observe to be felt on yourself, e.g., massages, haircuts, make-up application etc in videos.

I believe whispering can lead to both frisson and ASMR. In a few rare casses, I get ASMR from whispering, though most of the time I just find it creepy. More so with girl whispering than guy whispering.

I get it from certain triggers and a lot of the time I can induce it in myself. I get it sometimes from really good music, from getting my hair shaved, and from chewing on ice. To trigger it on my own, I have to concentrate on the base of my neck/head in an odd manner, I cannot really explain it. It basically makes my head and spine tingle, sometimes gives me goosebumps, and in general kind of feels like I'm having a head orgasm. I experience it quite a lot.

Originally Posted by snoop

I get it from certain triggers and a lot of the time I can induce it in myself. I get it sometimes from really good music, from getting my hair shaved, and from chewing on ice. To trigger it on my own, I have to concentrate on the base of my neck/head in an odd manner, I cannot really explain it. It basically makes my head and spine tingle, sometimes gives me goosebumps, and in general kind of feels like I'm having a head orgasm. I experience it quite a lot.

Good to see that i'm not alone with being able to induce it myself

I focus more on my spine when inducing it, then the feeling just goes down from my head through my spine. If i keep doing it, it gets more and more powerful and my whole head starts to be dizzy and the feeling gets even to my toes... It goes all over my body... now that's awesome when it goes that well

I'm not sure if it's like that for you too, but if i do it for too long, i feel like i run out of battery after a while and i can't do it anymore for a while... so i have to rest if i want it again.

Also... i can only induce it when i'm staying still (and preferably sitting). If i move i just can't do it. Closing my eyes also help, because it helps focusing on the feeling more and not my environment

Originally Posted by littlezoe

Good to see that i'm not alone with being able to induce it myself

I focus more on my spine when inducing it, then the feeling just goes down from my head through my spine. If i keep doing it, it gets more and more powerful and my whole head starts to be dizzy and the feeling gets even to my toes... It goes all over my body... now that's awesome when it goes that well

I'm not sure if it's like that for you too, but if i do it for too long, i feel like i run out of battery after a while and i can't do it anymore for a while... so i have to rest if i want it again.

Also... i can only induce it when i'm staying still (and preferably sitting). If i move i just can't do it. Closing my eyes also help, because it helps focusing on the feeling more and not my environment

I feel exactly the same as the bold, I even feel like if I do it often enough in a row it loses it's potency before I'm unable to do it again, like it'll still work but feel weaker. I feel I get it a lot more if I'm on some sort of stimulant. I'm a self proclaimed caffeine addict, I usually take in ~400-900 mg of caffeine a day. It works if I don't have caffeine too, but it's like a thousand times easier with it and happens a lot more on it's own without my trying.

I get it too, though not as strongly as some others seem to. I like whisper videos and some with people doing quiet things, but I haven't pinned down a specific trigger for those, besides maybe sliding sounds.

I also get a weird feeling in the base of my neck when I listen to something with sounds that move between left and right. Certain music does it. It goes along with the head feeling, but in mostly that one spot, and stronger. Like with this, even though I don't understand it:



I've also been falling asleep to WhisperCrystal a lot lately, haha.

I think I should try that out when doing a WBTB...I'm biting my lip just listening to her whisper.

That would definitely be worth a try. I used this once doing a WBTB:



Some people find this stuff creepy, but I think it's nice. This one just has rain sounds for a while at the end. At one point when I was trying, the rain suddenly sounded really distant, and I felt like a wave was slowly washing over me. I ended up not being tired enough to fall asleep, though.

A long time ago I found this video.



It was the first ASMR inducing video I ever found. I think I watched it like 10 times. Probably 6 years ago or so. It was before YouTube I believe.

edit: before YouTube got big, that is.

Wolfwood was the one who told me I experienced ASMR in some thread long ago.

Instead of tingling from the head to the spine, I would say my head tightens a little and I start getting a little muffled. Although I'm still conscious, I can slip out of consciousness any time I want. I think I got something close to an ASMR once when I had a curry too spicy and my head couldn't think.

And ASMR is related to some sexual feelings if I'm not wrong.

Originally Posted by Carrot

Wolfwood was the one who told me I experienced ASMR in some thread long ago.

Instead of tingling from the head to the spine, I would say my head tightens a little and I start getting a little muffled. Although I'm still conscious, I can slip out of consciousness any time I want. I think I got something close to an ASMR once when I had a curry too spicy and my head couldn't think.

And ASMR is related to some sexual feelings if I'm not wrong.

To me it's completely non-sexual.

Originally Posted by Marvo

To me it's completely non-sexual.

Same.

I think Carrot mixed this up with something else.

Originally Posted by littlezoe

Same.

I think Carrot mixed this up with something else.

Let's wait for Wolfwood to clarify, he's the expert. But some of the videos are killing me. The zen garden was over-exaggerating.

Edit: I've checked it up, ASMR doesn't contain sexual feeling. Maybe because the girl in the video is cute. So does ASMR put people in a daze? Because after listening to all those, even a Pokemon music makes my head feels light now.

Originally Posted by Kitties

I get it too, though not as strongly as some others seem to. I like whisper videos and some with people doing quiet things, but I haven't pinned down a specific trigger for those, besides maybe sliding sounds.

I also get a weird feeling in the base of my neck when I listen to something with sounds that move between left and right. Certain music does it. It goes along with the head feeling, but in mostly that one spot, and stronger. Like with this, even though I don't understand it:

I've also been falling asleep to WhisperCrystal a lot lately, haha.

WhisperCrystal is great, isn't she? I like the peculiarities in her voice and pronunciation. Does it well for me. In one video, she said: 'Pink bubblegum'. Had that replaying for ages. >.<

Originally Posted by Carrot

Let's wait for Wolfwood to clarify, he's the expert. But some of the videos are killing me. The zen garden was over-exaggerating.

Edit: I've checked it up, ASMR doesn't contain sexual feeling. Maybe because the girl in the video is cute. So does ASMR put people in a daze? Because after listening to all those, even a Pokemon music makes my head feels light now.

*door slams open, and the crowd roars....as Wolfwood -- the expert -- enters* lol @ suddenly being appointed the expert.

In itself alone, it's very sensual (like back/head massages), and so non-sexual -- especially when induced from videos. However, in real-life, it can be a precursor to sexual tension when induced by the right person, for it brings you 'closer' to the person causing it. You feel hypnotized by them; under their spell. I've had ASMR from a casual head massage by a uni friend.... let's just say it made me see her in a whole new way. ^_^

So, the feeling in itself is non-sexual, for sure. But, it certainly has the potential as a catalyst to sexual feelings.

I first got it years ago watching an old lady meticulously put library books on a shelf -- I couldn't help but just stare at her, stuck in this zone of fizziness. Though it made me 'like' her... it didn't in a sexual way.

Any level of mirror-touch synaesthesia will greatly enhance the realism when watching videos of massages, hair cuts, make-up application. I think this is why some people don't 'get it' when watching 'person touching' videos (but they do from having it done in real life).... for their level of mirror neuron activation is minimal. And just a note: those with mirror-touch synaesthesia tend to have higher empathy scores than those who don't (literally feeling the pain or pleasure of others).

Well, it doesn't matter if you can self-induce, right?

But yeah, that's where people differ when watching those videos: some can make the video feel real, and others can't derive anything from it -- they need it to be real. That's where mirror neurons come in.

Originally Posted by Wolfwood

But yeah, that's where people differ when watching those videos: some can make the video feel real, and others can't derive anything from it -- they need it to be real. That's where mirror neurons come in.

I just have a thought. Does mirror neurons help in feeling the emotional pain or happiness of someone else?

Originally Posted by littlezoe

Hmm.. interesting. I don't meditate. I planned it since long, but i never get around it.

Most of the time when i induce ASMR i'm just sitting somewhere, close my eyes and it just happens almost instantly... then when it goes better i can keep doing it for a while and i feel the waves going all over my body. It's surely euphoric.
These times i don't do any preparation, i just close my eyes and do it instantly.

As for hypnosis, i have no experiences about that

You should try meditation, you might have an advantageous disposition to it, i.e., you can relax easily.

Originally Posted by Carrot

I just have a thought. Does mirror neurons help in feeling the emotional pain or happiness of someone else?

That depends.

If someone is happy and it can be visibly perceived on their face or body, then you, too, can share that feeling through mirror neuron feedback. Especially when you understand their situation, e.g., what caused it. This applies to any feeling you can directly, visually perceive in someone.

However, if you're referring to feeling someone's happiness or sadness without any visual stimulation or through direct, traditional perception, then you're speaking of 'Empaths'..... That's metaphysical. When it comes to that, I remain silent. ^_^