Capacity of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response on the Reduction of Mental Stress

Abstract

In a social environment, various types of stress can be overwhelming. Humans frequently encounter these stressful situations in social life. Stress is divided into physical stress and mental stress; the latter is induced by heavy mental workloads and has become a huge social problem, leading to mental disorders and possibly suicide in the worst scenario. Investigations into monitoring mental stress and reducing stressful conditions are, therefore, important for its prevention. In the present study, we focused on autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) sound, which is known to improve the human mental condition through its comforting and relaxing effects. We investigated the effect of ASMR on the mental workload induced by mental tasks by the evaluation of EEG activation patterns in normal subjects. Our results showed a significant decrease in alpha-band activity and a significant increase in gamma (high beta)-band activity under the induction of mental workload by mental tasks compared to the resting condition. When applying ASMR sound, alpha- and gamma-band activity under the induction of mental workload by mental tasks was restored to the level of the resting condition. In conclusion, these results indicate that ASMR sound reduces the mental stress induced by mental workload.

‘It’s like Taking a Sleeping Pill’: Student Experience of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) to Promote Health and Mental Wellbeing

“…For example, studies measuring the heart rate variability of ASMR-sensitive individuals reveal a reduction in heart rate and blood pressure when watching ASMR content [28,29]. Similarly, the effect of ASMR induced specifically using sound has been found to both increase relaxation and enable mental recovery from challenging cognitive tasks performed in the laboratory [30]. Other work points to the seemingly paradoxical simultaneous cooccurrence of physiological mechanisms of relaxation and activation [31].…”