ASMR: Why Certain Sounds Soothe Your Mind
Looking for something new to help you relax? Look no further than ASMR, the sleeper sensation of the YouTube era.
There’s a thriving “whisper community” on YouTube in search of their next brain orgasm.
Autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR for the uninitiated, is a relaxing sensory experience to various audio or visual stimuli.
Known as “brain tingles,” ASMR has become so popular on the internet and social media that it was officially recognized as a word by Merriam-Webster in 2020.
Hundreds of new ASMR YouTube videos are created daily, expanding upon an already seemingly endless library of soothing, nonsexual whisper porn.
Research from 2018Trusted Source suggests there were more than 13 million ASMR videos at the time. There are likely many, many more now.
Proponents swear by ASMR’s anxiety-relieving and sleep-inducing effects, and emerging evidenceTrusted Source suggests there may be some possible benefits.
My initiation into ASMR
I had my first brain orgasm while I was researching for this article.I was hypnotized by Gentle Whispering ASMR’s rubber-gloved hands as soft, delicate whispers circled my head, traveling from ear to ear.I became transfixed by Chynaunique as she applied clear lip gloss to a perfect pout before biting into a jelly-filled marshmallow and squeezing it between two fingers to reveal its gooey center.
ASMR is considered nonsexual, mind you, but at that moment, I understood how some people may become aroused.
What is ASMR?
Proponents of ASMR have described the experience as a tingling sensation that begins at the crown of the head and travels down into the spine and limbs. What follows is deep relaxation, drowsiness, and bliss.Just about any household object can be used to “trigger” ASMR — from sponges, marbles, and scissors to toilet paper rolls, makeup, Mason jars, and even video game controllers. For instance, I watched mzg ASMR perform an “ASMR haircut” with a pair of shears and buzz clippers. I observed ASMR Crush on 9 engage in “fast and aggressive makeup role-play” in Korean with a slew of cosmetic products.In most cases, though, ASMR is characterized by soft, faint whispering. There are countless ASMR YouTubers, but some of the most well-known appear to be young women.
Some of the most popular ASMR YouTube channels include:
SAS-ASMR (9.32 million subscribers)
Gibi ASMR (4.04 million subscribers)
ASMR PPOMO (2.56 million subscribers)
ASMR Darling (2.54 million subscribers)
Gentle Whispering ASMR (2.15 million subscribers)
How does ASMR work?
The ASMR community uses the word “trigger” to describe the experience of being stimulated by visual or auditory stimuli. ASMR relies on these “triggers” to evoke pleasant sensations and emotions.
But ASMR can also be a form of entertainment.
When I watched Australian YouTuber Jojo ASMR perform 1,000 ASMR triggers with friends in a mind-melting mashup using touch and audibles — 30 straight minutes of colorful clicking crackling crumbling crunching blipping blooping rapping tapping twirling whirling swirling scratching wishing and swooshing — I realized how vast ASMR can be.
ASMR can be triggered by:
sound
physical touch
situations
Techniques to induce audio ASMR can vary, but in general, the act of moving one’s voice and objects around one to two high quality microphones can trigger the tingles.
The audio often alternates between ears and even different points within each ear. The result is truly “braingasmic.”
At times, I could almost sense the sounds traveling from one part of my brain to another, generating mild waves of euphoria that massaged my weary mind. At other times, however, I found certain sounds to be mildly agitating.
Why ASMR doesn’t work for everyone
Spoiler alert: Not everyone experiences ASMR in the same way.
Dr. Paul Poulakos, a psychiatrist in New York City, explains that just as there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for mental health conditions, it’s not surprising that ASMR doesn’t work for everyone.
“Although there tend to be certain sounds that people, more often than not, associate with positive experiences [and] sensations, everyone is different,” Poulakos says. “What one finds soothing, someone else may find irritating or even destabilizing.”
Possible benefits
The psychological basis of ASMR has not yet been fully established.
Still, research from 2018Trusted Source indicates that ASMR is a “reliable and physiologically-rooted experience” that may have possible therapeutic benefits for mental and physical health.
Other 2018 research claims that ASMR is related to mindfulness.
Findings indicate that people who watch or listen to ASMR tend to score higher on the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS), which measures the attention component of mindfulness.
“Certain sounds have been shown to elicit a pleasant effect, a sense of calmness, lifting one’s anxiety,” Poulakos says. “One possible explanation for this relies on the mind-body connection.”
However, a 2017 study of ASMR enthusiasts, first-timers, and others who’ve tried ASMR before reported benefits consistent with prior expectations due to popularity or suggested benefits.
Is ASMR good for mental health?
A February 2022 studyTrusted Source found new evidence linking anxiety and neuroticism with the ability to experience ASMR. I’m a slightly anxious person; this could explain why I may have felt the ASMR tingles.
Still, Dr. Caroline Leaf, a communication pathologist, author, and podcast host, clarifies that though ASMR to treat anxiety isn’t yet an established clinical therapy, there may be a few factors at play that help soothe people encountering anxiety symptoms.
“People who are experiencing ASMR are experiencing a complex sensory emotional experience that involves both the brain and the body, which [some research shows] creates a euphoric or bliss-like state, often referred to as being ‘in the zone,’” Leaf explains.
Types of ASMR
There are hundreds — possibly thousands — of ASMR types and trigger
Below are a few examples of ASMR triggers in action, performed by some of the most well-known ASMR YouTubers. If you’re sensitive to certain sounds, please proceed with caution.
Gibi ASMR: Whispering and tapping
“I was very deep into the YouTube world and ended up stumbling upon the ‘whisper community,’” Gibi tells me. “I also have ADHD and have a hard time concentrating when something exciting like music or a TV show is playing, so ASMR really was always great for me.”
Chynaunique ASMR: Soft eating sounds
Gentle Whispering ASMR: ‘Fluffy’ sounds and whispers
John Butler: ‘Unintentional’ ASMR
John Egan, who runs the popular YouTube channel Pure Unintentional ASMR in Vancouver, Canada, says he thinks many people find Butler an unlikely and unintentional star in the world of ASMR simply because of his voice and intention.
“He’s soft-spoken and well-spoken, and is generally speaking about gentle and uplifting things,” Egan says. “Personally, his voice is one of the most relaxing voices I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Recap
ASMR provides viewers and listeners with a brief mental escape, which fans around the world have found especially beneficial throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’ve received countless comments about people using my content to combat their pandemic anxiety and stress, and I myself have found ASMR to be incredibly comforting recently,” Gibi says.
Whether you’re considering ASMR to promote relaxation, improve sleep, or reduce stress and anxiety, it’s a good idea to consult with a doctor or mental health professional about treatment first. It’s also important to be aware of trigger sounds that may elicit a negative response.
If certain sounds fail to soothe your mind, you could try ASMR exercises that focus on visual triggers instead.
“ASMR is an unspeakably large genre,” Gibi says. “You can find so much in it; there will almost always be something for you in there — it’s simply a different form of media.”
Andrea Rice (she/her) is an award-winning journalist based in Raleigh, North Carolina. As a staff writer for PsychCentral, she covers mental health news and trending topics. Her work has appeared in news outlets such as The New York Times and INDY Week, and wellness publications such as Yoga Journal, Verywell, and mindbodygreen. As a yoga and meditation teacher since 2010, Andrea’s book, The Yoga Almanac, offers seasonal practices to nourish the body and mind.
Last medically reviewed on February 27, 2022
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