ASMR: The Feeling Science Hasn't Explained Yet

[Bvenged]

Okay, I didn't really get it from these videos, but I know what you're on about.

Years ago, I used to go "far away" sometimes when teachers would show me personally how to do some school work at my desk, and now I know not only that it has a name, but that pretty much everybody experiences it too!

 

[Nouw]

I've found that sounds closer and quieter work best for me. Thanks lacktheknack!

EDIT: Yup, it works. It's a really nice sensation :3. I recognize it from getting hair-cuts and eye-examinations.

 

[Broderick]

This was an odd sensation indeed. The earliest I remember it happening to me was when some soldiers came to our school and helped us with math by holding up flash cards. For some reason the one on one sessions with the flash cards gave me this sensation. I suggest everyone watch this video, it might give you the sensation too. I suggest wearing headphones and closing your eyes while listening to it.

Spoiler

.

 

[Quaxar]

I don't even have an idea what we're talking about here and watching any of the videos in this thread at best weirded me out.

So for now I shall work under the assumption that you are all simply nuts.

 

[Cptn_Ab]

i started getting ASMR (or something close) after my last bout of surgery, tbh i thought it was an after affect of the drugs they had me on

 

[Hagi]

Am I supposed to feel slightly twitchy and agitated from those videos?

All they do is disturb my pleasant silence without adding any meaningful content.

 

[manic_depressive13]

Huh? Were any of the videos in this this thread meant to make me feel anything other than mild to moderate annoyance? Because that's all I got. I have no idea what's meant to be happening. I've never felt anything like what people are describing in this thread. I'm kind of glad to be honest. Seems freaking weird.

 

[Hypno-Sheep]

Her fingers in the first video looked like a spiders legs trying to crawl around the tin can. I'm an arachnophobe so i wasnt exactly placed into a state of relaxation.

 

[EHKOS]

Awwww I don't feel it. I must not have a high enough Midiclorian level Interesting thing to learn about though.

 

[CorvusFerreum]

Is it weird that this somewhat works for me:


on a more serious note:
I think I know the feeling you describe, but these videos don't seem to work for me. Maybe it's because I'm not really relaxed at the moment (or ever). Perhaps I try it later. I just find at hard to concentrate on noise. Also: I find whispers (especially if they are recorded) and other triggers just somewhat discompforting.

 

[Some_weirdGuy]

Is it meant to be the same sort of effect certain music can make you feel?

Or what I sometimes got from this scene in toy story 2? (though i guess only other people who get 'dat feel' would even understand what i'm talking about... i swear it was like... love or something, but not with any person(though that old dude is pretty awesome, just look at that nose) but with that scene XD light hearted and happy. Disappointingly I didn't really feel it watching just now but maybe it might work for others)


Either way, while not altogether unpleasant(and bearable enough despite nothing really happening), i didn't actually feel anything from any of these videos, or others on the know your meme site... which is also disappointing.

 

[Owlslayer]

This was an odd sensation indeed. The earliest I remember it happening to me was when some soldiers came to our school and helped us with math by holding up flash cards. For some reason the one on one sessions with the flash cards gave me this sensation. I suggest everyone watch this video, it might give you the sensation too. I suggest wearing headphones and closing your eyes while listening to it.

Spoiler

.

Most of the other stuff on this thread didn`t really have much effect, but this. Oh boy, it felt good. Got chills and everything at one point. Even couldn`t breathe from the ....well, not really sure what it was, but it made me hold my breath. And interesting, i actually thought for a split second during the end i was in an actual barber shop. So, yeah. Freaky would be a good word to describe it. And really damn interesting. And thanks for the vid!

 

[The Diabolical Biz]

I got a minor chill from the tea one but it was kinda irritating. The 3D barber one was kinda cool too. I know the sensation though, I get it when listening to music (particularly romantic classical music, like the climaxes in Rachmaninoff's 2nd and 3rd piano concertos).

I wasn't going to post in this thread, but I watched a video a minute ago that gave me a massive chill down my spine:


Something about Attenborough's voice, the beautiful and kinda simple music, and the animals just swaying about got me.

EDIT: I watched it about 4 times and got the same chills at the same points each time. Funky.

 

[lechat]

very interesting
certain noises make me agitated or nervous while whispering depending on the source can be pleasant or infuriating which might be related to something similar

to those suffering (enjoying?) this. would you say that it might be a form of Synesthesia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia wherein your brain confuses certain senses with others and often gives them a duality? being able to taste colours or smell sounds for example. if that was the case i would imagine certain sounds would be exhibited as pleasant while others would be offensive or irritating. is that the case for anyone?

 

[hazabaza1]

I... I don't... bwuh?
This is a thing?

 

[CounterReproductive]

I have alwqays found watching them to be a waste of time. it is just the sound for me that is relaxing or triggering. I prefer the binaural recordings that mean headphones or buds are a must for a proper soundscape. and i NEVER watch the videos. each to their own though.

Captcha : eat out

I think my pc wants me to get out more

 

[lacktheknack]

I... I don't... bwuh?
This is a thing?

Were the responses your first clue?

 

[Vuliev]

very interesting
certain noises make me agitated or nervous while whispering depending on the source can be pleasant or infuriating which might be related to something similar

to those suffering (enjoying?) this. would you say that it might be a form of Synesthesia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia wherein your brain confuses certain senses with others and often gives them a duality? being able to taste colours or smell sounds for example. if that was the case i would imagine certain sounds would be exhibited as pleasant while others would be offensive or irritating. is that the case for anyone?

I'm no neuroscientist, but based on my own experience I don't think so, at least not entirely. The particular sound of teeth crushing ice (or anything that closely approximates is) is a trigger for me, but I get more than the simple "buzz" people keep talking about. When I hear it, there's a fuzziness in my scalp and along the back of my neck, but I also feel the sensation of the vibrations of my molars rubbing against the ice, and the distinct pops as the ice cracks. Depending on how loud/crunchy the sound is, my jaw will actually feel cold. As far as I can tell, it's tied to a distinct sensory memory of a particular time that I chewed on ice, and not because of synesthesia.

EDIT: After going through that this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlDFG2SCgn8] trigger compilation video, I'm definitely more inclined to believe it's tied to sensory memory. The frosted glass in particular immediately brought back memories of a glass chess set I used to have, and how I would rub the frosted pieces together, or run my nails along the frosted parts of the board to feel the vibrations. Squeezing the stuffed soccer ball worked as well; if she'd had a bigger stuffed thing (like a stuffed animal or one of those fake mini-American-footballs) and squeezed it more intently, I would have had a much more pronounced response.

I find it curious that the ASMR videos focus on the very quiet and the subtle--my triggers seem to require more volume or longer sounds, and I highly doubt I'm the only like this. Like running a fingernail along the teeth of a zip-tie (hee hee, just thinking about one gives me fuzzies), or the hum of an iron bar.

 

[Padwolf]

After a minute after watching the first video I started to suddenly start laughing out loud, not merely chuckling, but really laughing, like, loud.

That was really weird.

That's really weird for me since I had the same reaction. I couldn't help it. I just started bursting out laughing. I don't know what it means! D:

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Obligatory KYM article . . .
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/autonomous-sensory-meridian-response-asmr
Anyway, it's a weird sensation. It doesn't even have to be sound, for me.

You know what I took away from that article?

Article: "...Society of Sensationalists..."

ME: OMG! The Sensates from Planescape! Sign me up!

....

Well, that and maybe this is why I don't like other people brushing my hair. **shrug**