We've all been there. You have four essays due, a presentation to pull together and a whole lot of regret. Your body has become a beacon of stress and your favorite cup of tea isn't helping. What could possibly help you relax and remain focused?
That's where ASMR comes in.
ASMR, standing for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, is a newfound term for a phenomenon we're all familiar with.
When you listen to the gentle taps of raindrops on a roof, the sound of a stream flowing, or sit in the quiet corner of a library, you've likely found yourself overwhelmed with relaxation and a feeling of calmness. But have you wondered why so many of us find these ambient harmonies so peaceful?
The brain plays a pivotal role in this. Brain waves, the firing of electrical signals between your neurons that control your functions and mental processes, operate at specific frequencies. A study published by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology reveals that our normal day to day lives are dominated by Beta waves, which resonate between 14 and 30 hertz. These are when you're at your most alert state, whether you're sitting in class, talking with friends or putting off that research paper.
Alpha waves are when you start to notice a difference. Ranging from seven to 14 Hz, they are present in states of relaxation. ASMR is specifically designed to induce Alpha waves in your brain and facilitate calming sensations.
This process is called entrainment, which means your brain waves will shift their frequencies to match the frequency of the sound it is being exposed to.
Studies gathered by the Centerpointe Research Institute label audio that is linked to entrainment as Binaural Beats. Binaural is a fancy word meaning that it involves sounds going into both of your ears.
By listening to the sounds produced by an ASMR audio or video clip, you may notice a pleasant tingling sensation flowing from your head down to your toes. You'll be overcome by a prominent sense of serenity and calm.
In this state of relaxation, you are much more capable of focusing on what you need to through inducing a more positive "flow" of electrical signals in your brain. You are able to create an internal environment of peace that facilitates productivity and reduced stress.
ASMR videos are typically formatted as a one-on-one interaction with the video producer that uses a variety of objects, scenarios, and sounds to induce the pleasant feelings for you, the viewer.
One of my favorite channels is ASMRrequests, where filmmaker Ally has created over one-hundred videos for ASMR seekers of any taste.
In the video below, she uses a unique combination of the noises produced by shaving cream, goop and vitamin pills in her binaural microphone - all aimed to destress you.
So maybe your essay is still sitting on the word "the" and your life is generally falling apart into a thousand pieces, but at least you can attempt to be a functional human and calm your nerves using ASMR. Science isn't always test tubes and failed lab reports.
