ASMR: The Feeling Science Hasn't Explained Yet
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OH, is that what you call it? I've been aware of this feeling since I was little, but I never really thought about what a scientist might call it. I didn't even know it was such a weird thing, I thought everybody got that sensation sometimes, no different than the feeling of being grossed out, or tickled, or whatever.
Interesting, I'll have to bring this up to my friends and see if they know it too.
For me, ASMR is usually auditory. When I was a kid I used to listen to cassette tapes of this guy named Jim Weiss tell children's stories in his very soft, slow voice, and it gave me that sensation a lot. They were great for putting me to sleep, now I know why. It doesn't happen as often as it used to anymore, and sometimes I like chasing that feeling, trying to will myself into getting a tingling chill down my back. It even makes me shiver involuntarily sometimes.
Weird stuff, now that I think about it.
Interesting, I'll have to bring this up to my friends and see if they know it too.
For me, ASMR is usually auditory. When I was a kid I used to listen to cassette tapes of this guy named Jim Weiss tell children's stories in his very soft, slow voice, and it gave me that sensation a lot. They were great for putting me to sleep, now I know why. It doesn't happen as often as it used to anymore, and sometimes I like chasing that feeling, trying to will myself into getting a tingling chill down my back. It even makes me shiver involuntarily sometimes.
Weird stuff, now that I think about it.
The responses have been interesting, indeed. A whole lot of people have felt it, but didn't know what it was. Glad I could be of service!
Huh. None of the videos you posted worked for me, but the phenomenon sounded kinda like the shivery thing I feel when someone crunches on ice:
And so TIL there's a name for that shivery feeling. I'd always figured it was because I had formed a strong association between the sound and the sensation I feel when I chew ice myself. It only does it when someone legit bites down and cracks the ice, too (or when I hear a sound that's very similar to it)--just rattling the ice around against the teeth doesn't trigger.
EDIT: Upon reading the Wikipedia page for ASMR, I find it very interesting that people make a specific distinction between ASMR and the "chills" effect of music. Since this is my "first" experience with ASMR, and my ASMR seems to have another response overlaid (phantom sensation of the vibration of crushing ice in my teeth along with the coldness of the ice), it's difficult to relate others' descriptions of their personal ASMRs. Yet my own experiences and explorations with my personal responses to stimuli, especially music, seem to fit pretty well with ASMR as well as dopamine/endorphin response.
And so TIL there's a name for that shivery feeling. I'd always figured it was because I had formed a strong association between the sound and the sensation I feel when I chew ice myself. It only does it when someone legit bites down and cracks the ice, too (or when I hear a sound that's very similar to it)--just rattling the ice around against the teeth doesn't trigger.
EDIT: Upon reading the Wikipedia page for ASMR, I find it very interesting that people make a specific distinction between ASMR and the "chills" effect of music. Since this is my "first" experience with ASMR, and my ASMR seems to have another response overlaid (phantom sensation of the vibration of crushing ice in my teeth along with the coldness of the ice), it's difficult to relate others' descriptions of their personal ASMRs. Yet my own experiences and explorations with my personal responses to stimuli, especially music, seem to fit pretty well with ASMR as well as dopamine/endorphin response.
I believe I've experienced this before but didn't give it much thought. It seemed to occur while listening to my favorite songs, in particular, ones with instrumental sections. I'd get this weird sensation of slightly cooled water being poured over my brain. I never seem to have this feeling while watching these asmr youtube videos though.
I don't get it either, I wasn't confuse I was just like who cares. Maybe if she was naked it would have some sort of point but........Mazza35 said:
It's very cool to learn about these weird things because I know what it's like to experience something and feel that nobody knows what you're talking about. I finally saw a commercial for Restless Leg Syndrome a couple years back and realized that's what I had as a kid. I thought there was something seriously wrong with me (that was over 20 years ago).
The one thing I haven't been able to identify is this sensation I sometimes get when sitting very still. It can happen after an hour or just a few seconds. My head starts to feel like it's floating away from my body, or like my body is stretching out over several dozen feet. Very strange. It used to happen all the time but not any more.
The one thing I haven't been able to identify is this sensation I sometimes get when sitting very still. It can happen after an hour or just a few seconds. My head starts to feel like it's floating away from my body, or like my body is stretching out over several dozen feet. Very strange. It used to happen all the time but not any more.
my trigger is when I'm taking a pee. seriously
(doesnt happen every time I take a pee, only occasionaly)
(doesnt happen every time I take a pee, only occasionaly)
It sounds like "Alice In Wonderland Syndrome", except that is normally seeing things distorted rather than feeling them.FizzyIzze said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_in_Wonderland_syndrome
Ever read a book by Oliver Sacks? He's a neurologist who encounters absolutely bizarre things on a regular basis, like rejected limbs, patients who have no method of balancing, a woman who couldn't comprehend the idea of "left" and had to spin all the way to the right to turn a bit to the left, and the like. He may have recorded a patient like you, as well as the science behind the condition. I've read "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat" and "Musicophilia", and his stuff is worth a read even if you don't find the answer.
"Someone walking on your grave" is much less pleasant, and sometimes painful. ASMR is more of a buzz than a shooting chill/spasm. Plus, ASMR has to be triggered, while the other can happen at any moment that your brain decides to derp itself.chozo_hybrid said:
Ah, okay. Because I have that happen at least once every few days ^_^; was hoping this was the explanation, it's never painful though, just unpleasant.lacktheknack said:
I don't know if it is exactly the same as what I feel whenever I used to see either that 9/11 footage or the feeling I still get when I see the 'The Times They Are a Changin' part of the Watchmen movie, but it is generally pleasant and it's more whole-body than just head.
Anyhow, I most certainly don't get anything from these wispering and touching things videos.
Anyhow, I most certainly don't get anything from these wispering and touching things videos.
Well, I had reactions but none of them were what you described. I found the noise from the first one was only slightly more pleasant than nails on a chalkboard. Something in the second video's sound bothered me. I think it was the way the woman was whispering but the clinking of cups and the crinkling of the bag felt exaggerated, plus her weird stress pattern when speaking and her only being barely intelligible. The third actually bugged me visually: a paintbrush is being repeatedly applied to a picture and nothing is happening. My brain expects there to be some result and is unhappy for not getting it.
Clearly, if I have a trigger, it is not one of these.
Clearly, if I have a trigger, it is not one of these.
The first video did nothing for me, but the second was pleasantly odd... I had never heard of this before, although I recognized the feeling when it started. Never really placed much stock in it though, kinda just figured it was normal.
For me, I can recognize that it happens when I get head/neck and hand massages (not as much with back/leg/foot/whatever else), and apparently whatever the combination of sounds and visuals of that video were. I'm still watching it as I type this, and I've noticed that the feeling diminishes significantly when I'm not actually watching it. I'm thinking I might have to look into this some more, see if I can figure out anything specific.
On topic, it's not really sexual at all (for me anyway), just randomly pleasurable. Feels almost like a neck massage, like a tingling in my throat and the back of my neck. Now that I know what it is, I don't see anything wrong with it. Seems like a cheap version of a spa day to me.
For me, I can recognize that it happens when I get head/neck and hand massages (not as much with back/leg/foot/whatever else), and apparently whatever the combination of sounds and visuals of that video were. I'm still watching it as I type this, and I've noticed that the feeling diminishes significantly when I'm not actually watching it. I'm thinking I might have to look into this some more, see if I can figure out anything specific.
On topic, it's not really sexual at all (for me anyway), just randomly pleasurable. Feels almost like a neck massage, like a tingling in my throat and the back of my neck. Now that I know what it is, I don't see anything wrong with it. Seems like a cheap version of a spa day to me.
I've heard Oliver Sacks speak on Radiolab before. Is he the one that wrote about the people who experienced time differently? There was a girl that could move so fast that she could catch a ball and throw it back at such a tremendous speed that it was almost dangerous. And there was a guy that moved so slow he looked like a human statue, but in his mind he was moving normally. Fascinating. I'm going to have to read his books!lacktheknack said:
Ok so ASMR is what makes that above video extremely annoying along with mass whispering.
Knowledge gained.
Knowledge gained.
Try these specifically the bottom one as it has 17 seperate triggers compiled into one video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT5tuIdzCY4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlDFG2SCgn8
I have been watching these for 12 months or so. It helps to wear comfortable headphones or ear buds, sit quietly, don't do anything else and have the volume set comfortably for your ears.
unfortunately i still don't get MUCH asmr i only get a tiny little amount. I mainly use these softly spoken/whisper videos to help me get to sleep and oh boy do they work well at that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT5tuIdzCY4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlDFG2SCgn8
I have been watching these for 12 months or so. It helps to wear comfortable headphones or ear buds, sit quietly, don't do anything else and have the volume set comfortably for your ears.
unfortunately i still don't get MUCH asmr i only get a tiny little amount. I mainly use these softly spoken/whisper videos to help me get to sleep and oh boy do they work well at that.
Well, the pure sounds ones people have posted haven't done anything for me, and the ones that have people talk in them, (see both links in above post, and also the second video in the OP), are pretty much unbearable due to the almost "hippy" way they talk and act. Can't stand it. Oh well!