Abstract
Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a self-reported sensory phenomenon, in which people experience a tingling sensation across the scalp and back of the neck in response to specific triggering stimuli. The aim of this study was to examine whether the level of ASMR can be quantitatively assessed using electromyography. Six ASMR videos were viewed by twenty healthy young subjects. Electromyography was used during the viewing of each video, and a questionnaire on ASMR levels was administered after each video. The results showed that the top two videos out of six were the same for both self-reported levels of ASMR and electromyography amplitudes. Levels of ASMR sensation showed a statistically significant correlation with electromyography amplitudes. In particular, for the tingling sensation, the higher the sensation level, the larger the electromyography amplitude. Multiple regression analysis showed that the level of ASMR sensation had a significant influence on electromyography amplitude. Our findings may suggest that electromyography could be used as an objective way of assessing ASMR levels.
