International ASMR Day Date in the current year: April 9, 2024

The term autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) refers to a pleasant tingling sensation caused by certain auditory, visual, and tactile triggers. A form of paresthesia (an abnormal sensation of the skin that has no apparent physical cause), it usually begins in the scalp and moves downwards, following the line of spine. Some people also feel it in their shoulders, limbs, and lower back. The sensation has been compared to bubbles in a champagne glass or to a mild electrical current.

The term ASMR was coined by Jennifer Allen in 2010, although attention was first drawn to the phenomenon in 2007. A number of terms proposed before that included a reference to orgasm, but a significant majority of people who had experienced the phenomenon and were active in online discussions insisted that it was different from sexual arousal, so the community eventually chose a neutral term.

ASMR is usually a response to certain stimuli that are referred to as triggers. It is most commonly triggered by specific sounds, such as whisper, audible exhaling noises, repetitive sounds e. g. tapping, mouth sounds e. g. tongue popping or tsk-ing, crinkly sounds of paper and plastic, and various ambient noises.

Visual stimuli can trigger ASMR as well. Some people experience ASMR while watching somebody engage in a mundane task such as cooking or reading a book, perform personal grooming such as brushing one’s hair, painting one’s nails or applying makeup, etc. A lot of ASMR videos are focused on hands because neat, repetitive hand gestures often trigger the “brain tingle” response associated with ASMR.

And yes, there are millions of ASMR videos online (according to Wikipedia, over 15 million ASMR-inducing videos had been published on YouTube by 2021). Some are made by ASMR content creators with the specific purpose of triggering ASMR, while others can be described as “unintentional” ASMR videos that were made for other purposes but have been found out to trigger ASMR.

According to study, 20 to 70 percent of all people experience ASMR. Those who don’t often have a hard time believing that the phenomenon is real, and some even find ASMR videos uncomfortable and/or experience misophonia (a negative reaction to certain sounds) instead of a warm, tingling sensation in their scalp while watching them.

Love it or hate it, ASMR has gotten a lot of attention over the past decade and even has its own holiday. The celebration of International ASMR Day was initiated by ASMR video maker MsAutumnRed, whose idea quickly found support in the ASMR community. The event has been held annually since its inception in 2012.

To celebrate International ASMR Day, ASMR content creators upload new videos, and their fans share them to spread the word about this phenomenon. If you’ve been curious about ASMR before, it is the perfect occasion to watch a video or two to figure out if you’re one of those people who experience ASMR.