렛미톡광장

The Pleasures of ASMR
작성자  : 관리자
It starts with a strange tingling sensation on the scalp. This feeling then gradually radiates down into the neck and down the spine. It can be triggered by anything, from the sound of crackling leaves to someone speaking quietly in your ear.

This sensation is known as ASMR, and over the past decade, its popularity has exploded around the world.

The acronym ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response. The sensation can be activated by a variety of stimuli, but the main triggers are sound and touch. Noises such as whispering, chewing food, or turning a page in a book are common auditory triggers, while head massages and other forms of gentle touch are the main physical triggers.

Despite its scientific-sounding name, the term ASMR was actually coined by an ordinary person. In 2010, Jennifer Allen founded a Facebook group to discuss the “weird yet pleasant sensation” that she and others had been experiencing. She wanted to give the feeling its own unique name, so after brainstorming for some time, she came up with ASMR.

Almost immediately afterwards, the term started to spread on YouTube and other video sharing sites. Soon, what began as a niche subgenre of videos quickly grew to encompass thousands of channels hosting millions of videos. Indeed, YouTube’s most popular ASMR channel, Maria’s GentleWhispering, has about 2.21 million subscribers.

For those who experience ASMR, the sensation offers some surprising benefits. A study published in 2015 found that ASMR puts people in a relaxed state which reduces stress, improves sleep, and even relieves some chronic pain symptoms.

For those who do not experience ASMR, many simply enjoy having quiet sounds playing in the background as they work on their daily tasks. Others find that it helps them concentrate when studying or having trouble falling asleep.

So the next time you need help focusing or relaxing, why not try watching some ASMR videos?

* ASMR 자율 감각 쾌락 반응 (autonomous sensory meridian response)