What is autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR)? A narrative review and comparative analysis of related phenomena

Aidan Mahady; Marcel Takac; Alexander De Foe

doi:10.1016/j.concog.2023.103477

What is autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR)? A narrative review and comparative analysis of related phenomena

Conscious Cogn. 2023 Mar:109:103477. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2023.103477. Epub 2023 Feb 15.

Authors

Aidan Mahady¹, Marcel Takac², Alexander De Foe³

Affiliations

¹ School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Australia.
² School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Australia. Electronic address: marcel.takac@rmit.edu.au.
³ Faculty of Education, Monash University, Australia.

PMID: 36806854
DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2023.103477

Abstract

A narrative review of autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) was carried out. Definitional factors relevant to ASMR were canvassed. Related, but distinctly unique, sensorial phenomena, including frisson, synaesthesia, and misophonia were considered. Finally, the status of literature with respect to clinical outcomes, individual differences, and current research applications was evaluated. ASMR is a nascent phenomenon that has rapidly progressed in scope and depth of study throughout the past decade; a notable shift from brief-form studies to an increase in formalised trials is noted. Yet, critical questions remain unaddressed, including expectancy and placebo effects, that future research should interrogate.

Keywords: ASMR; Autonomous sensory meridian response; Flow state; Frisson; Functional connectivity; Misophonia; Relaxation; Synesthesia.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Hearing Disorders
Humans
Meridians*
Synesthesia

Supplementary concepts

misophonia