ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) is a physical sensation characterized by a pleasant tingling feeling, which begins in the head, and often descends down through the spine and into the limbs. Other terms include 'Attention Induced Euphoria' (AIE), and the rather smutty 'Attention Induced Head Orgasm' (AIHO).
TRIGGERS
There are a wide variety of triggers which can get your ASMR going. Some common triggers are as follows:
- Unique speech patterns
- Haircuts, or when touched at the back of the neck
- When you have your hair stroked.
- Listening to a particular genre of music, like classical for example
- Hair dryers, hoovers/vacuum cleaners, washing machines and other household appliances
- Tapping sounds - listening to someone sort coins, tap their fingers on a table, tap dancing etc.
- Drawing on a blackboard
- Rain gently falling against a window
- An emotional reaction to an event, movie scene etc.
- Bob Ross!
- The sound of someone tapping on a keyboard, mobile phone, remote control or calculator
- Book or magazine pages being turned
- Listening to someone write
'TYPE A' & 'TYPE B'
Type A episodes = A conscious, internal control over an ASMR event with no external influence.
Type B episodes = Triggered externally
Type A would include specific thought patterns or meditation practices, while Type B includes external stimulus such as the ones listed above.
Type B is by far the most common; there are literally thousands of videos and audio MP3s out there on the net which capture a wide variety of ASMR triggers. This way, people can experience the effects of ASMR any time they like.
