The Brain Science (and Benefits) of ASMR | Craig Richard | TED
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- A curious, quiet revolution of sound has taken over the internet. Physiologist Craig Richard explains the soothing brain science of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), tracking its rise in popularity and why this fascinating phenomenon is so relaxing to millions of people around the world.
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I am one of the lucky people that has a strong ASMR sensation when watching these videos and listening to these individuals. They help me relax significantly, and as someone with clinical anxiety, it makes a huge, positive difference in my mental state. The ASMR artists featured in this talk are those that I watch along with others. Thank you so much for talking about this topic and spreading understanding.
Define lucky 🍀 if you wood?
Light sparkly brain tingles, yes that’s it that’s what I feel, it’s glorious ❤
I used to
@@Tranqgodreal ... rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning, I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
Now the old king is dead, long live the king
One minute, I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'
Roman Cavalry choirs are singin'
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason, I can't explain
Once you'd gone, there was never, never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
It was a wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Aw, who would ever wanna be king?
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason, I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringin'
Roman Cavalry choirs are singin'
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
It’s likely no coincidence that you experience Asmr alongside high levels of anxiety. Researchers have seen a link between experiencing Asmr and having anxiety. People that experience Asmr often are high in the trait neuroticm. It essentially means that they are more susceptible to negative emotions like anxiety and depression.
I had a permanent migraine after a brain injury, and listening to the soft, gentle voice of one of my classmates was the only thing that ever worked to reduce the pain. Now I understand why.
I absolutely enjoyed this TED Talk! This used to be so taboo but not anymore. I give so much credit to ASMR Artists who create this kind of content just so that people can become more relaxed. We need ASMR ❤
ASMR videos had a huge positive impact in me, it’s like having a happy place to go every time I find a new ASMRtist❤
finally somebody talking about this, ive been struggling to find much proper research on the topic
Asmr, it's everywhere.
And then you think that this is a solid source?
@@das.gegenmittel its a way to bring publicity to a relatively unresearched phenomenon
In romania is know the saint whisper :) is the way telling someone beautiful/useful/lovind words at ear . It work with kids in night to wisper self confidence text created fir them! It work like magic :)
Glad to see Maria (gente whispering) and Emma (whispers red), they are absolutely fantastic and helped me a lot, the birthplace of ASMR.
I found asmr by mistake when I was younger. I looked up random space facts and the person was whispering them and I was listening and almost fell asleep😂 listened to that video a few nights then realized what it was exactly and was blown away.
Before hearing about 'ASMR', for most of my life, these pleasant feelings were 'brain shivers'. I identified most of my triggers at an early age. But they're not personal attention related.
One of my strongest comes from unintelligible whispered reading/slow page turning. It actually hit me the most at school, when teachers asked us to quietly read something. So typically moments when no one was paying much attention to others.
I just happen to enjoy the quiet sounds of focused people doing something.
I’ve been listening to asmr since I was in high school, probably even in 2013 as he mentioned when there was no studies about it. I’ve always known it was a very real thing and I’m glad it’s getting more and more attention over time
I hasn't known a lot of ASMR, however i was experience when i go wash hair, i fell comfortable. After this video I learn some new thing: everything comfortable help people relax, happy. Lastly, people just want love and respect. So I will soft talk with all people around me. The emotion positive alway accept and created to conect. Lastly, people want to love and respect. So I will do it with all peole.
wise words
I only saw this video for studying English, but it was so interesting that I just took a look at it.
thank you for wonderful speech!!
Brilliant presentation, Craig, thank you! 😄🙏🏽
I have seen many videos explaining ASMR, and "the tingles" and have often wondered if the "feelings" are of more basic response. Let me explain. I see ASMR not as response to sound, but as a reward for intensely for searching and finding an audio response. The ASMR fans are not just playing the sounds, they are actively attempting to connect to every sound and/or frequency in a low sound environment, and their brain is in high scan mode desperately awaiting a response. A confirmation that I am not alone and that the tingles are my brain acknowledging the receipt of those low tones and creating a biological response similar to fight or flight, but in this case since we are already safe, we're accepting it as pleasure today since we know there is no risk. I like to think that ASMR is a tool we possessed in infancy to receive auditory feedback to confirm that we are not ever truly left alone. Thanks for the presentation, and I love to know if ASMR occurs in blind people since their hearing tends to be more acute.
I'm not completely blind, but I'm blind in one eye, completely blind
My eye with sight is very bad too, although I have a little bit of sight in it, enough to walk around and live a relatively normal life
I'm "blind by law" in my good eye, and fully blind in my other one
My ASMR response was very strong when I was younger, but has faded as I got older
Now I only experience very weak tingles, unfortunately and they're rarely triggered whereas when I was younger, the tingles would pretty much overwhelm Mt entire body
ASMR is persecution and you're a psychopath if it gets you off
❤ Interesting take. My response to asmr is 10/10 tingles all the way from the back of my head down to my legs. At times it is SO overpoweringly pleasant it feels like my heart might stop! I cannot experience the tingles with audio only - the visual components 100% must be there, and often seem more important than the audio. I could turn the audio nearly to mute. Slow hand movements on or around the body, long ‘concentrated’ gazes and considered movements such as taking an accurate measurement with a tape. ASMR has helped to lower my general anxiety, and can put me to sleep within minutes. I have felt it my entire life, but only discovered the videos in the last 3 years. I was skeptical that they would elicit asmr tingles but I have been stunned by the simplicity now at my fingertips to access this incredible super power. 🎉
i am a former first responder w ptsd. i discovered asmr by accident in 2013. artists like whispers red, jbgreen, dmitri and a dozen others literally saved my life relaxing me when nothing else would and bridging me to in person therapy and emdr treatment
Haircuts and getting shoes shined..i recognized that feeling when i was very, very young..now 60 years later, i found a name for it!
Been waiting so long for science to look at ASMR!!!
I Agree with you Craig this is awesome
4:10 man that is crazy. I started watching ASMR videos 4 years ago, but before that I first experienced it through this example. These pasts 4 years, I've repeatedly been stuck between "that's ASMR" and "no way that's ASMR... it doesn't make sense." I was appalled by his response.
Edit: just kidding. 4:30 was my first experience. No way!
I just realized something that I find immensely interesting and helpful/affirming to my cognition. :) Care to hear? Several years ago, I used to watch categorically, intentionally-crafted ASMR videos regularly, and I never felt quite at ease with them. . . I didn't find anything wrong with them, I just felt slightly offput, personally . . . well, during this video Craig said something that was like a lightbulb moment for me, which distinguished why I prefer natural ASMR to intentionally crafted videos. . . it's the organic / natural versus acting / persona that I was subconsciously responding to when I experienced that aversion to ASMR videos!
I greatly appreciate the relaxing sensations that surface from naturally-occurring ASMR, but feel uncomfortable watching a video that somebody crafted specifically for that purpose -- it's like it feels a bit invasive, or calculated, rather than completely genuine and real . . . I guess that means I shouldn't click on 'em to watch anymore, now that I understand this information!
I don't look at this as a bad or negative thing -- actually I view it as neutral to positive, because it is my life experiences and self becoming better understood as I recognize! :) Yay; that's fun for me. :)
What to do now when I crave intimacy and restful relaxation from sensation . . . Bob Ross Joys of Painting!!! Hehe😁☺
Haha, my heart truly is joyful at discovering this. :) ;) Good stuff. Ok, that's all I've got to say. Adios!
❤ Thanks for sharing your experience. You may enjoy the artist Fe(male) ASMR - her videos are less ‘crafted’ in my view. No crazy ‘tapping’ on random things. She just does what she does and we get to watch. Take care.
What a fantastic talk! Entertaining and educational. AWESOME!!! Thank you :)
I knew I wasn't the only one enjoying all the ASMR 'tingles...tingles....tingles' while getting haircuts, listening to Bob Ross, or listening to ASMR Artists. 👏👏
There are many benefits that audio/sound frequencies can do for people. ASMR activates similar responses that we get from connecting with others, so in that its definitely special. Many people have a negative view of ASMR because they find it weird or they seen some of the ones where its just people making sounds with items, oftentimes odd items. I've explored much of the ASMR world but i have settled on the personal attention ones because i have the strongest response as well as most relaxing.
Ambient/sleep/meditation videos are also included and i love it when i find channels like this that also integrate ASMR. There is a ton of possibilities with ASMR and other sounds, we just need to get more people talking about it.
Omg! I adore Glow and Gentlewhispering!
The jolt of lightning that went through my body when I sat down and watched an asmr video made me so scared but I was happy. It’s so weird.
My mom got 3 out of 4 of her kids to like ASMR. My dad used to go around the house turning off all of our phones because they’d play it all night. It’s cool to see the way we’ve all grown to enjoy our own type. Not only do I deeply enjoy the calming aspect of ASMR, but it makes me think of my mom and siblings
A whole new career has emerged from people speaking into microphones and tapping boxes
When I was about 10 or so, a friend and I used to write on each other's backs with our finger to see if we could guess what we were writing. That ASMR experience is so vivid in my memory.
4:25, Wow! I literally paused the video JUST before he said this and wrote my comment. lol I had no idea he was going to say that!
Amazing topics
I love some great ASMR. The best one I've seen is Fred's Voice where he does a Bob Ross role play.
This is true, I told my hairdresser to keep trimming my hair since I was so relaxed, better than a massage.
If the place inside the brain after ASMR begins and the place inside the brain after a positive personal attention from a kind and caring individual begins activate the same, do people think ASMR-haters also feel discomfort near kind and caring individuals after positive personal attention begins?
I like to have my back tickled. The ASMR videos didn't do anything for me, but I do listen to sleep meditation videos frequently.
Love it ❤️
When I was young, maybe 12/13, I was sitting in the back of the car. My mum was in the passenger seat and dad was driving.
I asked mum, “mum do you ever get a big warm tingly sensation that washes over your whole body.”
She looked at my dad for a moment then said, “not in a long time.”
Last time I asked her about anything 🙈🙈🙈
hahaha
Personally I can't stand the ASMR where people talk or whisper, or there's any sort of discontinuous sounds and lipsmacking. It's uncomfortable and gives me the feeling of "back away I'm about to punch you." But I would consider the ASMR with just sounds, like the scratch of a pencil as it writes.
Hah, I just wrote this but in slightly different words. You're not alone! I liked the scissor sounds but all the saliva sounds make my skin crawl. Now I can hear all my own mouth noises and I hate it XD
That’s the most annoying thing I’ve experienced in my life, it’s extremely uncomfortable
Yeah same
ASRM Balloon rubbing / squeeking 👐🎈🎶
I'd recommend "ASMR Fancy letter" from the channel Asmrsurge. It's one of my favorite videos.
I've had asmr since 1979 as a child. I can do it spontaneously, without stimuli. Didn't even know other people had it until my daughter taught me it actually has a name now.
The whispering creeps me out! 😆
Thank for your beautiful speach. I love your channel....
Relax
This was very interesting. During meditation I feel these tingles.
I have a serious sleep problem and I think I should watch some ASMR vedio to fall asleep easily
Interesting thanks for this video
Chalk crushing ASMAR videos are addictive
Ok good his talks made in to my feelings 👍👍
Sounds similiar to how a loving mother interacts with a child they love.
Bedtime, story, and tuck- in routine. Very calming, happy bonding.
I Feel same with this comment when I listen . I think some part of humanbeeing never grow up
people trying too hard to do asmr got it all wrong. Nothing will ever compare to the random bouts of asmr when you least expect it.
Or unintended asmr, prime examples would be old tv shows as was mentioned with bob ross
Mine was in school when the kid next to was making pencil sounds when writing, or the teacher writing on chalkboard or reading softly
I'm VERY blessed that I have ASMR. I've had it since 2004, before it was even called ASMR
Planning on giving Asmr a try because of this
This talk was so much fun
Thanks to the speaker and the production team!
I watch Amsr every day, and can validate that it has amazing benefits, it reingages me in experiencing feelings.
I think the feelings he talks about is smilar with that a parent talks with his/her child before sleep. I guess all people need and search this feelings and maybe thats why we all feel lonely when we grow up.
ASMR Videos make me feel good and relaxing, especially when I'm not well
I wish I could get this feeling at the dentist. Instead, I’m afraid they’re going to kill me.
I think that whatever gives people goosebumps has something to do with ASMR too. State of calm and deep relaxation seem essential though. As do the specific sounds.
It is some kind of simulated association to situations in which we are usually deeply relaxed while someone gives us close personal attention.
I have a negative response to most of those ASMR clips. All the saliva bubble popping/snapping in people's mouths make my skin crawl. I kinda liked the scissor sounds though.
My fav asmr guy: bill pax
5:18 Subtitles was mistaken
Great❤
you are the best keep going
Me: What the heck is ASMR?
Great TED Talk!
Me: nice voices what the h3ll is all that noise tho?
Me again: Why does ASMR make me angry? I want tingles!
Google: you have Misophonia
Me: Great! What the heck is Misophonia?
Google: A disorder in which certain sounds trigger emotional or physiological responses...
Me: holding myself while wondering why did I look up ASMR :)
😂😂😂 Great presentation.
I absolutely loathe ASMR and can't get through a video of it. In fact, I had to stop this one at 11:47 because of it. I guess I'm an outlier.
mouth sounds make my skin crawl, I hate them. But the mechanical sounds I like, like the scissors for example.
I hate when I'm watching an ASMR video and a stupid ad interrupts the video. Ads ought not to be allowed on "relaxation" videos; except maybe at the beginning and/or end.
Creationfied
1 hour ago
finally somebody talking about this, ive been struggling to find much proper research on the topic
Why is he not whispering this presentation ASMR style?
ted
Thankyou so much.
i agree it may be oxytocin; i experienced asmr when breastfeeding 🤱
hello , some of my first ASMR experience was someone whispering in my ear with cupped hands in elementary school . then it was julia child and joyce chen's cooking shows in the 60s and bob ross painting , and i have been chasing the " tingles " ever since . i especially enjoy watching shoe shine men working and make up jobs being performed . BTW the examples you showed , does not do it for me........great share , thank you , for sharing..........
Actually, I don't really like ASMR. don't hate it, it's just normal. but after listening to this explanation, and because I am a nursing student, I think that ASMR can be a medium for health therapy. because what I know is that music is one of the media for health therapy, and ASMR has been scientifically proven to have a positive effect on our brains
My favourite ASMR artist ShibbySays 😉
Hello
🌊
‘Bout Time ☕️
Another Ted talkkk❤
The first and last video made me relax, but the others actually made me angry.
Lisas MatrixHart
26 minutes ago
This was very interesting. During meditation I feel these tingles.
Joe Stahl
7 minutes ago
There are many benefits that
Joe Stahl
5 minutes ago
There are many benefits that audio/sound frequencies can do for people. ASMR activates similar responses that we get from connecting with others, so in that its definitely special. Many people have a negative view of ASMR because they find it weird or they seen some of the ones where its just people making sounds with items, oftentimes odd items. I've explored much of the ASMR world but i have settled on the personal attention ones because i have the strongest response as well as most relaxing.
Lablablablab
Wow!!! All my life I thought I was just a weirdo. Turns out there are a bunch of us. Hehehe
When the b. O. b video dropping?
This man has a weird but good imagination!
I love ASMR
Dr. Pimple Popper also has a lot of subscribers. And her work relaxes people.
Fun and helpful 🤩🙏🏻❤️🩹✨🌹
I wonder if the regions of the brain that are excited in humans experiencing ASMR are similar to the regions that are excited in other primates when they engage in social grooming.
I love watching Bob Ross for relaxation.. never thought of it as ASMR. My step son talks about ASMR lot and his version makes me cringe.. like chewing near my ear.
I too used to think that I would pay someone to play with my hair
Today is my birthday and this is such a great talk to add on this day given I too am a painter, love the bob ross reference
Happy Birthday!
I’m wondering if I’m one of those people who where born without it. Meditation and yoga also don’t give me that feeling. What I know for sure is that my hormones are screwed and not working in normal ways.
10:13
ASMR helps so much with my anxiety, depression, sleep issues and migraines 🫶🏻 the only thing that could stop my panic attacks was a specific type of reassuring ASMR 😭😂
🤩💖 Brilliant
Mike Hess
38 minutes ago
Sounds similiar to how a loving mother interacts with a child they love.
And that's why u see so many people go to the doctor now Days 😅
fresh news here let kkep ee UP now safe
I am sure the term ASMR was coined before 2010 - I was exploring ASMR when I was a teenager at least as early as 2007.
Nathalie Lazo
46 minutes ago
Incredible person reading this, you have everything there is to succeed in life, whatever that is for you. Go after the life you truly want NOW! ✨
I believe in you! Love - Nat ❤
Incredible person reading this, you have everything there is to succeed in life, whatever that is for you. Go after the life you truly want NOW! ✨
I believe in you! Love - Nat ❤️
Beautiful comment, Hello how are you doing 👋👋
A curious, quiet revolution of sound has taken over the internet. Physiologist Craig Richard explains the soothing brain science of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), tracking its rise in popularity and why this fascinating phenomenon is so relaxing to millions of people around the