Guide to ASMR AKA Emotional Chills

Have you ever been listening to a song and felt chills run down your neck when the singer hits a high note? Or finished a book with a well-executed closing line and seen goosebumps appear on your arms? These body chills, known as Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, are a natural psychophysiological response in your body brought on by powerful, emotional experiences. In other words, happy tingles.

Many things, both emotional and physical, can elicit an ASMR response. It might be triggered by intense personal attention and the feeling of being utterly taken care of, like when you’re getting a haircut or a massage. Or perhaps when you hear certain sounds in close range, like whispering or light fingernail tapping. Regardless of the stimuli itself, an ASMR response is always a euphoric, tingling sensation that usually starts at the back of your head and quickly travels down your spine into your limbs. You may notice it also helps to relax you.

Some people chase this type of high by searching for music, movies and stimuli that trigger the physical sensation. Everyone has different triggers, so it may take some experimenting to find out what yours are. There’s a wide range of YouTube videos that can guide you through common prompts, like this one on different sound triggers and this one on visual triggers.

Curious? Give it a try!