The awesome as well as the awful: Heightened sensory sensitivity predicts the presence and intensity of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR)

Poerio, Giulia L.; Mank, Safiyya; Hostler, Thomas J.

doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2021.104183

Cited by 20 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 72 publications

(91 reference statements)

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“…Overall, these findings are in line with fMRI results showing that experiencing ASMR is linked with increased activity within the brain regions implicated in somatosensation and pain perception (Lochte et al, 2018;Smith et al, 2019). They also fit more widely with evidence of general self-reported increased sensory sensitivity (Janik McErlean & Banissy, 2018;Poerio et al, 2022;Roberts et al, 2020;Smith et al, 2019) and transliminality (Roberts et al, 2021) in ASMR experiencers. As this is the first study to objectively measure sensory sensitivity in any modality among the ASMR experiencers it is essential to examine whether this extends beyond the tactile domain.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Moreover, both conditions appear to rely on similar inducer-concurrent mechanisms and both have been linked to atypical neural connectivity (Dovern et al, 2012;Schweizer et al, 2013;Smith et al, 2017), and a similar personality profile (Banissy et al, 2013;Chun & Hupe, 2016;Rouw & Scholte, 2016). At the same time, neuroimaging research (Lochte et al, 2018; Banissy, 2018;Poerio et al, 2022;Roberts et al, 2020) suggest that ASMR may be characterised by heightened sensitivity within several sensory modalities. As such, further research using objective measures is needed to establish whether sensory sensitivity among ASMR experiencers is domain specific or domain general, as this would shed more light on the mechanisms underpinning the conscious ASMR experiences and its wider phenotype.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In light of several lines of evidence suggesting there may be increased sensory sensitivity in ASMR (Poerio et al, 2022;Roberts et al, 2020;Smith et al, 2019) this study sought to establish whether ASMR experiencers compared to controls show enhanced sensitivity within the tactile domain, by administering an established lab-based pain induction procedure using an algometer and the VAS.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“No pain, no gain”: The impact of autonomous sensory meridian response on pain perception

2022

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Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a phenomenon characterised by a static-like tingling sensation spreading from the scalp and neck to the periphery in response to a variety of audio, visual, and tactile triggers resulting in a highly relaxed state and boosted positive affect. The limited literature on this phenomenon points to a potential of ASMR to alleviate pain. Emerging evidence also suggests that ASMR may be linked to increased sensory sensitivity more broadly. This study aimed to objectively address these claims by administering an algometer (measure of pain tolerance), and a visual analog scale (VAS) (measure of subjective pain sensitivity) to ASMR experiencers and controls at baseline, following an ASMR video, and a control video. Findings indicate that ASMR experiencers have a higher pain sensitivity than controls; however, there was no difference between the two groups in terms of pain tolerance. In addition, any potential analgesic properties associated with experiencing ASMR may reflect protective properties of ASMR buffering against the increased pain sensitivity among ASMR experiencers relative to controls.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“No pain, no gain”: The impact of autonomous sensory meridian response on pain perception

2022

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“…One possibility we discussed in the Introduction is that they share a common genetic and or neurocognitive basis. Support for this idea comes from studies that show heightened sensory sensitivity in both ASMR 9 and synesthesia 37 , altered patterns of neural connectivity 13,17,18 , developmental origins 6,7 , and a shared broader phenotype 10,12 . Another possibility that may explain their co-occurrence is that people with ASMR and synesthesia are both simply more likely to report anomalous experiences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This synesthetic insula cross-activation via auditory cortex modulates regulation of sympathovagal balance, pushing it toward the parasympathetic side, thus accounting for positive effects of ASMR triggers on emotion via the autonomic nervous system. Although theoretically driven, the model of McGeoch and Rouw (2020) is supported by evidence demonstrating that state ASMR is associated with reductions in heart rate 6 , and more recently, evidence of heighted interoceptive sensitivity in ASMRresponders compared to controls 9 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Similar But Different: High Prevalence Of Synesthesia In Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR)

Poerio

Ueda

Kondo

2022

Preprint

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Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a complex sensory-emotional experience characterized by pleasant tingling sensations originating at the scalp. ASMR is triggered in some people (called ASMR-responders) by stimuli including whispering, personal attention, and crisp sounds (termed ASMR triggers). Since its inception, ASMR has been likened to synesthesia, but convincing empirical data directly linking ASMR with synesthesia is lacking. In this study, we examined whether the prevalence of synesthesia is indeed significantly higher in ASMR-responders than non-responders. A sample of working adults and students (N = 648) were surveyed about their experience with ASMR and common types of synesthesia. The proportion of synesthetes who were classified as ASMR-responders was 52%, whereas 22% of ASMR-responders were also synesthetes. These results suggest that: (1) over half of those identifying as synesthetes also experience ASMR, and (2) that synesthesia is up to four times as common among ASMR-responders as among non-responders (22% vs. 5%). Findings also suggest a prevalence rate for ASMR of approximately 20%. Overall, the co-occurrence of ASMR and synesthesia lends empirical support to the idea that ASMR may be driven by synesthetic mechanisms, but future research would benefit from examining how ASMR and synesthesia are different, as well as similar.

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Touching you, touching me: Higher incidence of mirror-touch synaesthesia and positive (but not negative) reactions to social touch in Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response

Gillmeister

Succi

Romei

et al. 2022

Consciousness and Cognition

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The awesome as well as the awful: Heightened sensory sensitivity predicts the presence and intensity of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR)

Cited by 20 publications

References 72 publications

“No pain, no gain”: The impact of autonomous sensory meridian response on pain perception

“No pain, no gain”: The impact of autonomous sensory meridian response on pain perception

Similar But Different: High Prevalence Of Synesthesia In Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR)

Touching you, touching me: Higher incidence of mirror-touch synaesthesia and positive (but not negative) reactions to social touch in Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response

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