Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a neologism for a perceptual phenomenon characterized as a distinct, pleasurable tingling sensation in the head, scalp, back, or peripheral regions of the body in response to visual, auditory, olfactory, and/or cognitive stimuli.
Does anyone here know about it? Extremely pleasurable sensation on top of mostly the scalp coupled with an relaxed meditative state. No one I've talked to has ever experienced it to their own knowledge. There's a considerable youtube community which specializes in it.
It's very personalized, and dependent upon ones mode. These really work for me.
I would describe it as an immersion into the other. Deactivation of parts of the brain, an escape from the burden of hearing ones thoughts, which is why it's so relaxing.
The whole phenomena reminds me of Schopenhauer's aesthetics, in which one is released from the world of the will, and purely within the mode of the spectator of representations.
Another dimension of this is would be that of the state of flow.
Similar in certain aspects, but also very different. The brain goes into a state of hyperactivity, deposing of all unnecessary mechanisms in order to perfect the specified task. A different route of removing the super-ego, the current neuroscience is very limited within these spheres.
This might be total bullshit, but perhaps these are primal states of being, in correlation with certain functions. Asmr would be the predator who is staring at and contemplating his prey, waiting for the right moment to strike. Flow would be the prey, in reaction to the predator, with fully automatic and instinctual responses. Humans often share the role of both.
Mo Lamb
Gender : Posts : 276 Join date : 2013-02-02 Age : 41 Location : Northerly
I think “primal state of being” is a pretty good way to put the experience. Perhaps any partial silencing of second-order consciousness---i.e., you being aware of you, (your future projects, responsibilities, obligations, past history, etc)---is more “primal”. You are just being you, without the added higher-level “self-editing” that usually goes into that process.
I’m not sure about the predator/prey stuff, unless that’s just like any other form of being absorbed in some task. Describing it that way might fit awkwardly with how the experience reminds you of Schopenhauer’s aesthetics.
If the ‘will’ is about the push and pull of natural demands made on you---how your desires press on you, the tightness, the feeling of need, etc---then the experience of stepping outside that, becoming a spectator, would be the opposite of primal, wouldn’t it? It’s odd to describe the experience as one of becoming a spectator, and also describe the same experience as the dimming of any vantage you have of your self---you know, second-order.
There are many different aspects of the will I suppose. Schopenhauer considered humans as the most unfortunate of all animals because they have the ability to contemplate the future, and thus always long for a future that never comes, with only perpetual dissatisfaction and moments of slight release. For humans the will is thus primarily that of an idea, rejection of it through any means was beneficial to him. We can see in history how Diogenes the Cynic attempted to return the animal state, that of complete flow, and the Buddha to that of total detachment, one with every thing so to say, which I correlate with Asmr.
The lower and higher states of being, the animalistic and the spiritual, humans are somewhere in the middle. The question lies in what mechanisms where involved in originating these states. Very complex topic, no precise answers to be found, don't know all the pieces to the puzzle.
Just watch a cat stare at its prey, it is putting itself into the other, is this not Schopenhauer's aesthetic, the rejection of the will was first based within the will essentially. At its base everything has to of had some initial function, or at least be a byproduct of a function. I correlate flow to the prey, because it's still here, in life or death situations people do not think, only act, perhaps its the basis point.
Last edited by There Will Be Blood on Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:41 am; edited 3 times in total
reasonvemotion
Gender : Posts : 681 Join date : 2013-01-09 Location : The Female Spirit
ASMR. I do experience this. Not often and when I do it is a direct result of another person's interacting with me. Usually, when I am being instructed on how to do something, involving the body, or reading or page turning. The person's voice plays an important role in this also. This is when the sensation comes over me. It is a tingling sensation, They have my complete attention, it doesn't matter what they are saying, I completely surrender to the it. I thought everyone experienced this and never questioned it. It is a most pleasant feeling, everything else is blocked out, I become totally relaxed, putty in their hands, so to speak.
Is this how you experience it? It happens very seldom and with people who are unaware of what their actions are creating within me. I usually ask mundane questions just to prolong the experience.
Yes, that's precisely it. I could never properly explain it to people before it became a wide spread sensation on youtube. It requires a personal interaction. Before youtube I as well experienced it in perfect moments of mental clarity whilst being instructed, or listening to a lecture, while not really thinking about the said topic, only the interaction.
It always comes unexpectedly, when you are not trying to have it. So pleasurable, under an hypnotic trance, you pause within the moment, and prolong it. When it has passed you are extremely relaxed, under a similar state which induced it, and sometimes able to experience it again soon after, but only if you shut off all thoughts.
Extreme extroverts, or hyper people, wouldn't be able to enter the state, as they are pathologically self regulating, not immersive enough.
A womans voice would only work whilst whispering, otherwise it's distractingly high pitched, a calm deep mans voice is perfect. Ambient or distinct sounds relating to the persons interactions such as tapping on the camera can largely add to the effect. That is the sound part, visually it only works within aesthetically pleasing areas, so a womans face, or a relaxing backround setting.
Last edited by There Will Be Blood on Tue Nov 26, 2013 4:35 am; edited 2 times in total
reasonvemotion
Gender : Posts : 681 Join date : 2013-01-09 Location : The Female Spirit
Extreme extroverts, or hyper people, wouldn't be able to enter the state, as they are pathologically self regulating, not immersive enough.
I think you may be right.
I am essentially introvert.
Also it can happen when I am very tired and interacting with someone whose voice I like.
I don't think it is harmful, in fact, I think it may be beneficial, perhaps the mind forcing the shutdown, a protective mechanism. The voice essentially has to be quiet and calm, softly spoken.
Do you know how common or uncommon this ASMR is?
Last edited by reasonvemotion on Tue Nov 26, 2013 11:55 pm; edited 1 time in total
Anfang
Gender : Posts : 3989 Join date : 2013-01-23 Age : 40 Location : Castra Alpine Grug
I most often experience it with certain parts of certain musical pieces. It usually begins in the back of my head and sends shivers down my spine. This song is a good example of something that would trigger this response.
I cannot recall experiencing it simply from talking to another, but I understand the feeling of wishing to be overcome by the sensations, to fully experience it, to have it wash over me.
Certain nature scenes also bring it about though I don't travel all that often. A raw, green natural setting with a whipping wind did it for me a few times as did my first gaze into the truly starry sky when I visited the Caribbean.
I believe what you are describing is chills. A more common experience. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Listening to music is said the be the sensation most capable of enabling humans to relive past experiences. If you correlate deep emotional ponderings with those experiences chills are likely to ensue.
These pieces have given me the most goosebumps.
I experience it as the mind overtaking the body. Adrenaline rushed through out the blood steam in response to a seemingly mundane mode of being, yet one experiences it as profound, emotional surpassing the logical. Asmr and flow are more instinctual and primal, body overriding the mind, related to innate functions.
I would say very uncommon, seemingly only a fraction of those who watch the videos experience it, and that‘s coming out of a very small fraction of the general public. Certainly has something to do with nurture as opposed to nature, else some of my siblings would of had it, this could also explain why it‘s a novel phenomena of no historical record.
reasonvemotion
Gender : Posts : 681 Join date : 2013-01-09 Location : The Female Spirit
This is probably the main source of ASMR for myself, the influence of another person, this, and page turning.
What you describe, I don't think fits with ASMR.
Yeah probably not. The voice of the whispering woman with the Norway book gave me a few chills for a moment or two, particularly with the 'ssss' sounds... but I did get bored of it pretty quickly.
[quote="There Will Be Blood"]I believe what you are describing is chills. A more common experience. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Lol yeah I just wanted to belong I guess
Nice music though. You you did give me a few cheap thrills/chills, especially that bit of the old Ludwig Van...
Slaughtz
Gender : Posts : 2593 Join date : 2012-04-28 Age : 33 Location : A stone.
Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a neologism for a perceptual phenomenon characterized as a distinct, pleasurable tingling sensation in the head, scalp, back, or peripheral regions of the body in response to visual, auditory, olfactory, and/or cognitive stimuli.
I would describe it as an immersion into the other. Deactivation of parts of the brain, an escape from the burden of hearing ones thoughts, which is why it's so relaxing.
The second video reminds me of home. I would hear my father's voice mumbling at that level while I was in the back seat of the car or on Christmas eve. I'm thinking that has something to do with the relaxing nature of these videos. Anyone who has had a home where they, as children, can hear their parents calmly discussing, laughing or reading a book through the wall or downstairs and reducing the sounds to a whisper might find it evoking those states of being. It's a signal of safety. Whispers are that as well, as you hear mothers whispering to a child - it is a sign that you are in a safe place, a quiet and warm place. Stress doesn't go well with whispering - there is usually some kind of cry or loud stringiness to the whispering if the person in question is bothered in any way. That tingly warm sensation on the back of your head may very well be the hand/arm/breast of your mother which you remember.
The chills (from music) are distinctly different from a "pleasurable tingling sensation" and for me typically occurs during a response to a sharp contrast in perception. The mellow sound to the shrill, from warmth into a bone chilling coldness and even vice versa. As to its purpose, and thus its likely origin - I do not know. Shivering is done to maintain homeostasis (wiki). Which, could be exactly why you shiver when something fails expectation - an involuntary response in you to adapt to unexpected circumstance.
