ASMR: What does tingling in the head mean?

2014

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The unknown feeling

Some people know it: the tingling sensation on the scalp, which is suddenly triggered by some sounds (sometimes combined with slow, flowing movements). It does not feel a bit uncomfortable. On the contrary! It has a calming effect and relaxes the person in a strange way. Some people also perceive this feeling as a kind of trance.

The tingling - a real feeling?

Are these all misguided sentimentalists who are faking it all up? Certainly not! This phenomenon is ASMR ("Autonomous Sensory Meridan Response"). The tingling in mind know most since their childhood, but only since the Youtube and similar pages various ASMR videos are uploaded, the science is concerned with it.

Artificially induced trigger stimuli

ASMR is triggered by so-called visual and auditory triggers. The feeling in each person is caused by different audio-visual stimuli. This can be a whisper, the sound of rustling paper or soft scratches on a variety of objects, but also the sight of head massages, or flowing hand movements.

The videos on Youtube are often recorded with a special 3D microphone to amplify the ASMR-triggering sound over both ears. When watching one should wear headphones at best.

Skeptics see in the ASMR videos that are often presented by pretty, young women (sometimes in a kind of role-playing with the audience) a purely sexual stimulation. That's nonsense! ASMR has at most a kind of addiction factor for relaxation . Mostly it does not matter to those affected, what exactly in the videos said and who is shown exactly. It goes much more to that!

Do I have ASMR?

You want to know if you are responding to visual or auditory triggers? Then test yourself now! Take a look at the videos below. If you do not notice anything after 5 seconds, no problem. Sometimes ASMR can only be felt after a few minutes. If nothing comes: do not be sad, you will certainly find the quiet sounds reassuring ...