15 Of The Most Common ASMR Triggers

ASMR, scientifically known as autonomous sensory meridian response, is known for helping individuals who experience the phenomenon to relax, help deal with their insomnia, or even to meditate after a long day of working. Not everyone experiences the sensation throughout their body, though millions are currently obsessed with this particularly fascinating feeling. Everyone is different, so finding the right trigger is the only way to truly relax and enjoy your time with these videos and ASMRtists.

Whispering

Whispering is easily the most common trigger available within any ASMR videos. The majority of videos available on YouTube tend to feature whispering in some capacity. The soft tones of a male or female voice happen to offer some of the most relaxing tingles available.

Tapping

Tapping tends to be one of the most common triggers available. When someone is tapping on a hard surface, it tends to bring about a rhythmic trance that helps people relax or meditate while listening. Some can fall asleep quite easily with the tapping sound happening over and over again.

Scratching

Scratching generally happens on the hard cover of a book, a plastic bottle, a table, or another hard surface where it can be most useful. The sound can either be very gentle or a bit grating depending on how hard the person is scratching on the surface. Either one can produce the desired effect, though.

Blowing

Blowing, particularly into your ear, brings both the sensation of the feeling of cool air brushing against your skin and the sound that the other person’s mouth makes as they accomplish this task. Moving from ear to ear helps really bring this trigger to the forefront for most people.

Page Turning

Turning the pages of a book offers a really delicate sound as the pages flit together. The brushing of the paper, the hardcover back flipping open gently, and the soft noise that it all brings is incredibly relaxing, especially to those who enjoy reading and know the sounds well.

Personal Attention

Personal attention often features a few triggers combined, much like role-play. However, it has the added benefit of solely focusing on the person watching, allowing them to feel like the center of the world. It’s a relaxing feeling to have someone dote over you, even if it’s within a video.

Role-Play

Role-play can be an incredibly unique experience. It may involve any number of other triggers combined into one package for the listener. Doctors, massage therapist, best friends, and even zombie apocalypse survivors have been known to practice ASMR in these particular videos.

Inaudible Whispering

Inaudible whispering is one of the very best triggers. This encompasses the ASMRtist to switch between each side of their binaural microphone and just barely whisper into your “ear”. The mouth sounds that come with just barely making out the word are fantastic.

Concentration

Concentrating on a task at hand can be the type of ASMR experience that you’re not fully expecting. This is the type of video you go into just looking to learn something new and relax, but ultimately end up feeling really good with the tingles experienced.

Massage

A massage could also be considered personal attention, though it has the added benefit of the sound of someone’s hands running over the mic or makeshift surface. Head massages are quite common, as are ear and shoulder massages, too.

Eating

Watching someone eat can gross out some people immensely. However, the sound of chewing food can be a bit relaxing to others. Some people have the ability to eat almost elegantly. This one is a little harder to pull off, though, as it requires the right food and texture to create a worthwhile sound.

Hand Movements

Hand movements isn’t about sound, it’s purely about the visual aspect of ASMR, which can also cause the same tingling feeling within your body. Soft movements can be very relaxing for some and can send people into a bit of a trance, allowing them to meditate and relax.

Plastic Crinkling

Crinkling of any object tends to be a good trigger, but plastic produces a nice sound that should enrapture those listening. Again, this is the type of sound that some will either enjoy or hate. It can be a bit unique, so hearing it done right is very worthwhile.

Sticky Fingers

Sticky fingers is highly common for those who experience ASMR. The sound of someone’s fingers sticking to an object, such as a balloon or plastic, can create such a unique sound that everyone wants to hear it on occasion. It’s such a soft tone that it’s hard not to enjoy at times.

Buzzing

Buzzing certainly isn’t for everyone. In fact, many people may consider it to be more annoying than relaxing. However, it does come in on the list as one of the most common triggers for people who experience ASMR. When done right, a softer sound can easily be relaxing or cause a meditative state.