ASMR, short for autonomous sensory meridian response, describes a tingling, static-like sensation that starts on the scalp and may spread down the neck and back, often with a feeling of calm. The name grew out of online communities rather than science, and a vast genre of videos now offers triggers such as whispering, tapping, crinkling, close personal attention and slow, careful movements.
Research began only in the mid-2010s. A 2015 survey of several hundred people found whispering, personal attention, crisp sounds and slow movements to be the most common triggers. A 2018 study reported that ASMR videos increased pleasant feelings and lowered heart rate, but only in people who experience the response; not everyone does. Claims about relief from anxiety, pain or insomnia still rest largely on self-reports.
ASMR shares an audience with lo-fi, since both are used to relax or study, and lo-fi’s close-miked textures, such as rain or turning pages, sit in neighbouring territory. For lasting sleep or mood problems, a doctor remains the right person to see.