Autonomous sensory meridian response
Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a euphoric experience characterized by a static-like tingling sensation on the skin that typically begins on the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and upper spine, precipitating relaxation.
Overview
Definition
Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) signifies the subjective experience of 'low-grade euphoria' characterized by 'a combination of positive feelings, relaxation, and a distinct static-like tingling sensation on the skin'. It typically begins 'on the scalp' before moving 'down the spine' to the base of the neck, sometimes spreading 'to the back, arms and legs as intensity increases', most commonly triggered by specific acoustic and visual stimuli including the content of some digital videos, and less commonly by intentional attentional control.
Origins of the name
The term 'Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response' (ASMR) was coined on 25 February 2010 by Jennifer Allen, an electrical engineering and computer science graduate from the University of Southern Maine in the introduction to a Facebook Group she founded entitled the 'ASMR Group'.