ASMR

What is ASMR?

ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. It is the name commonly given to a pleasant sensory experience that some people feel in response to particular sounds, sights, or situations. It is often described as a tingling sensation beginning around the scalp or neck, sometimes traveling down the back, and is frequently associated with feelings of calm or relaxation. Not everyone experiences ASMR, and the things that trigger it can be very different from one person to another. Common ASMR triggers include whispering, tapping, scratching, page turning, careful hand movements, repetitive tasks and, of course, typing and keyboard sounds. But ASMR content does not necessarily have to produce the characteristic “tingles” to be enjoyable. Many people simply enjoy listening to these sounds while relaxing, reading, studying, working, or preparing to sleep. A mechanical keyboard, for example, can create a repetitive and detailed soundscape even for someone who does not experience ASMR tingles. That is the part of ASMR we particularly enjoy exploring at Sound Archive ASMR. Keyboards are remarkably different from one another. Their switches, keycaps, construction, materials and even the way someone types can change their sound. A keyboard can be sharp and clicky, deep and muted, soft, crisp, or somewhere in between. Our archive explores those sounds alongside the things being typed: literature, Bible passages, studies, and sometimes simply the keyboard itself. ASMR is still a relatively young area of scientific research, and the experience is subjective. If a particular sound does nothing for you, that is perfectly normal. The best way to understand it may simply be to listen. Put on a pair of headphones and explore the archive.