ASMR Definition | What EXACTLY is ASMR? [with examples]

ASMR definition | What is ASMR? | ASMR defined
ASMR definition | What is ASMR? | ASMR defined

Do you keep hearing about ASMR but you’re unsure what it is? You know it’s something relating to whispering or sleeping or tingles or something but what exactly is the definition for ASMR?

ASMR definition:

The strictest ASMR definition according to a PeerJ study by Barratt EL and Davis NJ from 2015, ASMR is “a tingling, static-like sensation across the scalp, back of the neck and at times further areas in response to specific triggering audio and visual stimuli” which is where all of the soft speaking and satisfying to watch videos come in.

Often ASMR videos are “socially intimate in nature” and can involve repetitive behavior such as brushing hair, cleaning and restoring items or ear whispering.

The term ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response and according to the Wikipedia definition ASMR is “an experience characterized by a static-like or tingling sensation on the skin that typically begins on the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and upper spine”. ASMR is often associated with frisson which are acoustic chills that often give an individual goosebumps.

ASMR definition
ASMR Definition – An ASMR Map

So basically if you keep hearing about ASMR and don’t know what it is
the simplest ASMR definition comes from the Urban Dictionary who state that the “sole purpose of ASMR is to relax people…. Ideally, ASMR videos are meant to give the viewer a relaxing tingle at the back of their head and/or spine”. Certainly the purpose of our Pure Unintentional ASMR YouTube channel exists solely to relax the viewer/listener. This can be down using a number of different videos.

ASMR videos or audio usually involve one of these key features known as ASMR triggers. They include but are not limited to:

  • Lip smacking
  • Whispering
  • Soft speaking
  • Brushing sounds
  • Nail tapping
  • People doing mundane tasks
  • People performing massages, energy healing and physiotherapy.
  • etc.

There are even studies recently that suggest there could be different personality traits associated with people who experience ASMR. For example one study suggested that people who experience ASMR are more open to new experiences.

For more info on ASMR check out more articles below:

What does ASMR mean?

How a women’s chess press conference became best unintentional ASMR on YouTube

Top 6 Unintentional ASMR Videos To Fall Asleep To