What Is ASMR?

A perceptual phenomena known as autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is characterized by a delightful, tingling sensation that starts in the head and scalp and spreads to the body's limbs, relaxing them. When someone is aroused by visual, aural, olfactory, and/or cognitive stimuli, such as whistling, tapping, or stroking one's hair, it is an uncontrollable event. These provocations, whether they actually occur or are only implied, cause a subconscious response that is exceedingly challenging to describe to people who have never had it.

DEFINITION: "Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a perceptual phenomenon characterized by a tingly feeling in the brain or scalp caused by the experience or suggestion of external stimuli."

Although ASMR is not new, it is new to the general public. Those who have been experiencing ASMR for their whole lives have realized that the phenomenon not only has a name, but that others also experience it and that there is a growing online community waiting to set off their tingles thanks to coverage in local, regional, national, and international media.

Devon King is typical of individuals who initially felt ASMR as children but were unaware of what it was or whether other people also felt it. He tried to express the weird emotion, but was met with blank stares and head scratching, so he gave up. He assumed he shared the same unique "Spidey senses" as his favorite comic book character. However, King's tingles did not appear in response to impending danger, unlike Spiderman's superpower. His could have been brought on by a variety of experiences, including face painting, seeing someone else sketch or paint, listening to a narrative, or having his respiration monitored. It always happened when he was most relaxed.