Fredborg Beverley K, Clark James M, Smith Stephen D
Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Department of Psychology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
PeerJ. 2018 Aug 7;6:e5414. doi: 10.7717/peerj.5414. eCollection 2018.
Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a perceptual phenomenon in which specific audiovisual stimuli frequently elicit tingling sensations on the scalp and neck. These stimuli ("ASMR triggers") are typically social in nature (e.g., watching someone brush their hair, hearing whispering,) and often elicit a calm and positive emotional state that may last up to several minutes. ASMR experiences phenomenologically overlap with mindfulness; however, no research has directly examined how mindfulness might relate to ASMR.
In the current study, 284 individuals with ASMR completed the Toronto Mindfulness Scale (TMS), the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS), and a questionnaire examining ASMR experiences. Age- and sex-matched control participants were asked to view two ASMR-eliciting videos to ensure that they did not experience tingling sensations associated with ASMR; they then completed the TMS and MAAS questionnaires.
When compared with matched controls, individuals with ASMR generated significantly higher scores on the MAAS, a global measure of mindfulness, as well as significantly higher scores on the Curiosity subscale of the TMS.
These results suggest that the sensory-emotional experiences associated with ASMR may be partially explained by a distinct subset of characteristics associated with mindfulness.
自主性感觉经络反应（ASMR）是一种感知现象，特定的视听刺激常常会引发头皮和颈部的刺痛感。这些刺激（“ASMR触发因素”）本质上通常具有社交性（例如，观看某人梳头、听到低语声），并且常常引发一种平静且积极的情绪状态，这种状态可能会持续长达几分钟。ASMR体验在现象学上与正念有重叠；然而，尚无研究直接考察正念与ASMR之间可能存在的关联。
在本研究中，284名有ASMR体验的个体完成了多伦多正念量表（TMS）、正念注意觉知量表（MAAS）以及一份考察ASMR体验的问卷。年龄和性别匹配的对照参与者被要求观看两段引发ASMR的视频，以确保他们不会体验到与ASMR相关的刺痛感；然后他们完成了TMS和MAAS问卷。
与匹配的对照组相比，有ASMR体验的个体在MAAS（一种正念的整体测量指标）上的得分显著更高，在TMS的好奇心子量表上的得分也显著更高。
这些结果表明，与ASMR相关的感官情绪体验可能部分由与正念相关的一组独特特征所解释。
