This weeks thoughts:

So whenever I can’t sleep my go to fix is ASMR (if u have trouble sleeping, try it, it’s actually so calming). But what is ASMR? What is it about videos of finger flutters, whispering and tapping that has us spellbound?

Definition:

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response:
A tingling sensation (omg I just realized this is why we loved ppl doing/ playing with our hair in primary school) that usually begins on the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and upper spine.

How does it work?

*For this section I’m mainly going off this VOX article and this National Geographic article so you can check them out if you want more info*

Basically, ASMR has neurological and physiological responses that cause us to feel relaxed and get ~tingles~ (although it is diff for everyone).

A study conducted by colleagues at Dartmouth College looked into brain activity to see what happens in the brain watching ASMR. From the results, Dr. Craig Richard says that “it showed that specific areas of the brain are active when someone is experiencing ASMR. Some of these regions highlight the likely involvement of dopamine and oxytocin.”

These hormones are thought to be the main reason for the effects of ASMR as they are mainly linked to feel-good feelings; Oxytocin specifically, is linked to calming effects and relaxation, decreasing stress and anxiety.

There is soooo much more to go into but for the sake of this post ima leave it there (check out the links above if u wanna go into a bigger deep dive 🤿).

Some types ASMR:

• tapping

• water sounds

• whispering

• role-playing

• unboxing sounds

• soft touch

• writing sounds

The significance:

So ASMR can have numerous calming effects in both psychologically (reducing stress) and physically (reducing heart-rate). These don’t necessarily occur for everybody but many people use it to feel less anxious or more relaxed, and to improve sleep.

I think ASMR, in general, is seen as a very ‘gimmicky’ side of the internet, but once you get past the initial weirdness of people in low LED light rooms whispering to you, it’s actually a really interesting concept to think abt. I mean the irony of how consumption of digital media is helping people slow down/relax is a whole nother rabbit hole into society and consumerism that is simply too mind bogglingly hard to even start to think about 😁.

Side note of ASMR I like to watch/ listen to:

Ok so no, I don’t watch much ASMR buttt, when I do these are my go-to’s:

• Nice ASMR: Casual Cookery
  There’s smth that’s so satisfying about the neatness of baking and seeing all the ingredients come together to make a delicious looking cake.
  

• Sleepy ASMR: Whispering Willow

  This channel can feel weird/cringy to watch if your not trying to be sleepy because it’s a roleplay, but omg, every time I’ve laid awake for a few hours not being able to sleep, this channel somehow makes me pass out in less than 20 minutes.

Hope you have a relaxing week

C