ASMR DECODED – the evolutionary origin theory of ASMR

- Sharicka Zutshi

ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response. It describes a tingly sensation experienced from the back of your head along your spine. Recently, it has also gone on to include a feeling of relaxation experienced on hearing certain sounds and experiencing certain imagery. It is a phenomenon that has taken over YouTube in the past two years, so if you haven’t heard of it you’ve been living under a rock.

When I first heard of ASMR, I scoffed and thought that the concept was absolutely absurd. However, after first experiencing it I just felt more curious about this incredibly mysterious phenomenon. ASMR hasn’t been researched about and hence a lot about it remains unknown, including the origin.

Biology of ASMR can be compared to the biology of inter- personal connections between people as described by an article published by the ASMR university website (yep there is such a thing)

There are several theories on the biological origin of the phenomenon and how it takes place in the body, however, I could find none on why this mechanism was integrated to be a part of human behaviour in the first place.

ASMR is associated with the release of endorphins which activate opioid receptors. It also leads to the release of dopamine or the “happy hormone”. This explains the euphoria and tingly feeling associated with ASMR. For more in-depth information on the hormonal explanation for ASMR refer to this article

https://asmruniversity.com/origin-theory-of-asmr/

David Huron, Professor in the School of Music at Ohio State University, states:

"[The 'ASMR effect' is] clearly strongly related to the perception of non-threat and altruistic attention [and has a] strong similarity to physical grooming in primates [who] derive enormous pleasure (bordering on euphoria) when being groomed by a grooming partner...not to get clean, but rather to bond with each other."

The following is an evolutionary take on the theory of the origin of ASMR.

A few known facts and my take on them about ASMR are as follows. Firstly, ASMR is not experienced by everyone. Only a select few of the population experience this phenomenon. This pushes me to believe that this mechanism had some use in the past but was eliminated by evolution as it was no longer useful to humans. Secondly, ASMR triggers are classified as follows, Visual and auditory. In my own lingo I’d like to explain them to be of the following four types.

1. The personal attention triggers (sound) – E.g. Whispering close to the ears

2. The personal attention triggers (Touch) – E.g. Hand movements, Massage, skin tracing

3. Sharp triggers- these triggers are quick sounds and are often either mouth sounds or tapping (fast or slow)

4. Mellow triggers- tracing, scratching and feeling material.

Most triggers associated with ASMR confer a sense of safety to a person. I believe that when man was away from all the comforts of the modern world and lived in the wild he was constantly on the lookout for a new danger and how to tackle it.

The personal triggers often have an element that establishes the affections of another person. Maybe this presence is associated with the feeling of safety hence sense of euphoria.

Now, my weird take on the other two triggers is that I believe they stem from the sense of safety humans experience due to proximity to water.

Hear me out! I have an argument I swear.

The first time I experienced ASMR it was because of listening to the rain. Tapping- fast or slow- sounds exactly like the patter of the rain. When I listen to scratching sounds it either sounds like the crashing waves, waterfalls or strong winds before it rains.

It is not impossible to believe that humans experienced euphoria or there was a chemical release by the brain due to proximity to water because of it being irreplaceable and essential to survival and well-being of the species.

All civilisations developed around water bodies. Technically speaking this societal up like a civilisation moved us from the early to the modern ages. It is a plausible idea that a common feeling of safety developed around water bodies could be a factor in that organisation. Although endorphins are released.

Being in water or drinking water releases the same endorphins released when experiencing ASMR but that happens during any happy feeling or feeling of relief.

The true answer to this question lies in activation of brain regions.

The regions active during ASMR are:

· Medial prefrontal cortex- associated with social behaviours including grooming but directly associated with memory which could mean memory of closeness to water which is important to survive.

· Secondary somatosensory cortex- associated with sensation of touch or tactile attention- keeping the door open to my theory of proximity to water.

Well one day if I get to conduct experiments on animals through neuro-imaging I may find out the real answer. Till then do consider it the next time you listen to ASMR.