Who has ASMR?

[Little Shepherd]

And what triggers work best for you?

For me, mouth sounds(such as chewing) work extremely well, which is strange since in real life they're the kinds of sounds that totally gross me out(and, if loud enough, make me want to punch someone). Whispers(especially the unintelligible kind), various types of tapping, crinkling, and brushing work pretty well, too. I recently discovered layered sounds, too, in which you get bombarded with multiple triggers at once, and when they're well done, they're amazingly effective. And I think it goes without saying that recordings made with a binaural mic are much, much better than those without. I had no idea that playing around with the sounds' positioning could make a difference, but it does.

I guess I should share my story, too.

I discovered at a very young age that certain kinds of sounds caused a tingling sensation in my head and down my neck. The sound of gentle breathing when someone looks over your shoulder to read along with you. The rapping of fingernails on a desk, if it went on long enough. And I also figured out that I couldn't cause this myself. No amount of rapping my own fingernails on a surface worked. I clearly remember that the person who sat next to me in 6th grade would do it occasionally. That was about 23 years ago. It wasn't until a few months ago that a certain College Humor video about ASMR was released, I happened upon it by chance, and I found out:
A) It doesn't happen to everybody. In fact, it only happens to a small minority of people. I honestly didn't realize that most people never experience this, and it never really occurred to me to ask.
B) That it had a name at all. I still don't like that the M -- Meridian -- is supposed to mean "orgasm." The tingles are definitely not an orgasm, and there's nothing sexual about it at all.
C) That there was an online community of sorts on Youtube that caters to it. The videos range from the straight-forward to the extremely weird. I stick to the straight-forward ones.
D) That I had more triggers than I could have imagined. All of the common triggers -- tapping, whispering, crinkling -- work for me to some degree, but some kinds of quiet humming and metallic sounds work for me, too.

Weird, but true.

[Cerebrum123]

I have what might be called the opposite of this ASMR. Certain sounds causing an extremely unpleasant tingling in the scalp. neck, then back. Things like markers, or various scratching noises do this. I don't necessarily have to hear it either. Feeling the vibrations through my hands does the same thing.

[Little Shepherd]

I have what might be called the opposite of this ASMR. Certain sounds causing an extremely unpleasant tingling in the scalp. neck, then back. Things like markers, or various scratching noises do this. I don't necessarily have to hear it either. Feeling the vibrations through my hands does the same thing.

I'm honestly not sure if this is a form of auditory-kinesthetic synesthesia, which ASMR is a specific type of, or just the regular reaction to certain sounds like nails on a chalkboard that most people(myself included) have. I've also had trouble using chalk because both the sound and the feel of chalk on a blackboard(especially the feel) get to me. The large-scale switch to dry erase boards was a godsend to me for this reason.

[Carrikature]

I still don't like that the M -- Meridian -- is supposed to mean "orgasm." The tingles are definitely not an orgasm, and there's nothing sexual about it at all.

For what it's worth, the physiological aspect of an orgasm is effectively sensory (neural) overload. It centers around sexual references because the genitals are one of the most commonly known areas where humans have large clusters of nerve endings. I've never seen Meridian supposed to mean orgasm, though. I've only seen it in the context of geography or Chinese medicine.

[Cow Poke]

For both of you.

[Cow Poke]

For what it's worth, the physiological aspect of an orgasm is effectively sensory (neural) overload. It centers around sexual references because the genitals are one of the most commonly known areas where humans have large clusters of nerve endings. I've never seen Meridian supposed to mean orgasm, though. I've only seen it in the context of geography or Chinese medicine.

Interesting. Is this why, when a guy looks over the edge of a railing, like on top of a really tall building, there's tingling down there? (quite serious)

[Carrikature]

Interesting. Is this why, when a guy looks over the edge of a railing, like on top of a really tall building, there's tingling down there? (quite serious)

I don't know. Indications seem to be that it's either a early/slight trigger of the flight-or-fight response (specifically, increasing blood flow in general but maybe only noticeable there) OR that it's your brain sort of prepping/simulating the feeling of weightlessness. The way our body works, it's probably a bit of both, like your brain/body is anticipating and preparing for a fall.

It happens to me, but I'm not sure it happens to everyone.

[Little Shepherd]

Interesting. Is this why, when a guy looks over the edge of a railing, like on top of a really tall building, there's tingling down there? (quite serious)

Not sure what you're talking about. That's never happened to me.

[One Bad Pig]

Please don't throw out acronyms and assume everybody knows what you're referring to with them.

[Carrikature]

It happens to me, but I'm not sure it happens to everyone.

Not sure what you're talking about. That's never happened to me.

[Carrikature]

Please don't throw out acronyms and assume everybody knows what you're referring to with them.

Google isn't broken. Very first hit is the wikipedia article on it.

[One Bad Pig]

Google isn't broken. Very first hit is the wikipedia article on it.

Yes, I could look it up. All the same, though, I shouldn't have to. I shouldn't have to look something up in order to understand an OP. Derek's a big boy, he can handle a little constructive criticism.

And wikipedia is a last resort, not my first option.

[Jedidiah]

Never heard of ASMR by name or description.

[Little Shepherd]

Yes, I could look it up. All the same, though, I shouldn't have to. I shouldn't have to look something up in order to understand an OP. Derek's a big boy, he can handle a little constructive criticism.

I generally expect people to read the OP before responding, and I gave all of the "what is it" information in the OP. I did leave out the name, though, except for the word Meridian.

So for those of you who don't know -- it's Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. It's the popular name(I do not think it has a proper, scientific name) for a specific subset of auditory-kinesthetic synesthesia in which certain auditory stimuli cause a kinesthetic response that feels like pleasant "tingles" that begin near the top of the head. The tingles tend to travel downward along the back of the head and neck, and depending on a variety of factors -- personal sensitivity, specific trigger used, current state of mind, etc. -- they may travel farther down the spine and in some cases extend all the way to the limbs. It is also possible through overexposure to become desensitized to ASMR triggers; this can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to recover from.

While I get sensations that are quite strong sometimes, I've personally never experienced them "traveling" farther than my upper spine, just below the neck and between my shoulder blades. It's incredibly relaxing, too. The stress and tension just melts away, kind of like getting the best scalp(and perhaps neck and back for some people) massage of your life . . . without the uncomfortable human contact that accompanies a real massage.

[Cerebrum123]

I'm honestly not sure if this is a form of auditory-kinesthetic synesthesia, which ASMR is a specific type of, or just the regular reaction to certain sounds like nails on a chalkboard that most people(myself included) have. I've also had trouble using chalk because both the sound and the feel of chalk on a blackboard(especially the feel) get to me. The large-scale switch to dry erase boards was a godsend to me for this reason.

I didn't have this response to markers and such until after I got RSD(Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy for those who don't know). So, either it's just an intense increase in the sensation, and sensitivity of the latter, or something else.