Are ASMR tingles good for you?

Overview

Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) -” the brain tingles or brain orgasm” is a sensation experienced by some people in response to some specific triggers such as sights, whispering, tapping, and slow hand movements. This sensation has shown benefits in the improvement of both physical and mental health.

Induction of sleep

ASMR videos produce the feeling of relaxation and help people in improving mood and relieving insomnia and fight anxiety issues. People who have difficulty sleeping can get benefit from the ASMR.

Physical benefits.

While watching ASMR videos, some changes occur in the body such as decreased heart rate. The interesting thing is that the average reduction in the heart rate experienced by ASMR participants was comparable to other stress-reduction techniques such as music. ASMR videos are just as relaxing as music and mindfulness. Thus ASMR videos lower heart rate and improves overall health and well-being.

Mood elevation

According to one of the surveys, ASMR helps people in improving mood and counteracting loneliness.

one study showed that brain tingling is quite helpful in satiating the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other psychogenic issues.

A positive approach toward things.

Aside from feeling relaxed, people who are engaged in ASMR are positive thinkers and are more socially connected. An increased sense of connection with others has a positive impact on overall well-being.

ASMR videos elicit tingling sensations and induce a positive effect on the body which along with the other things include sensations of peacefulness and excitement.

Improved creativity.

A 2012 study published in the journal of consumer research reveals that ASMR videos enhance performance in creative tasks as these are low to moderate toned and the human brain perceives them as white noise. White noise creates a masking effect, blocking out sudden changes that frustrate light sleepers. Thus listening to ASMR while studying is beneficial as it reduces stress and helps to get more work done.

Sound sleep.

As mentioned above white noise help people fall asleep and enhance the sleep quality in thepeople who tend to wake up due to small distractions in their surroundings. Hence ASMR also has a beneficial effect on light sleepers. ASMR observers watch ASMR videos to promote relaxation and sleep.

During ASMR, the brain has been shown to release neurochemicals such as oxytocin and endorphin and these neurochemicals following their physiological functions induce the deep feeling of calmness and relaxation.

Fighting depression and anxiety.

            It has been shown to help people out of depressive episodes as it counteracts the loneliness and hopelessness associated with it into a better mood. Along with this, it can distract people from a depressive or anxious episode. People who get ASMR reported more calm and relaxed, as well as less sad and less stressed as compared to those who can not feel such sensations.

References

1: Poerio, G. L., Blakey, E., Hostler, T. J., & Veltri, T. (2018). More than a feeling: Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is characterized by reliable changes in affect and physiology. PloS one, 13(6), e0196645. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196645

2: Barratt, E. L., & Davis, N. J. (2015). Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR): a flow-like mental state. PeerJ, 3, e851. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.851

3: Lochte, B. C., Guillory, S. A., Richard, C., & Kelley, W. M. (2018). An fMRI investigation of the neural correlates underlying the autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR). BioImpacts : BI, 8(4), 295–304. https://doi.org/10.15171/bi.2018.32

4: Cash, D. K., Heisick, L. L., & Papesh, M. H. (2018). Expectancy effects in the Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. PeerJ, 6, e5229. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5229