Body scan meditation enhances the autonomous sensory meridian response to auditory stimuli.
Sarah Glim, Lynn Braun, Sophie Hayd, Amelie Kuenz, Felicitas Rosak, Jule Vom Bruch
Perception June 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1177/03010066221098104 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Mindfulness exercise |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Crossmodal processing |
| Key points | A prior mindfulness exercise focusing attention on the body enhances the perception of ASMR-associated tingles. |
Abstract
Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a pleasant, tingling sensation on the skin that can be elicited by certain auditory and visual stimuli, with the intertwining of sensory modalities and emotional reactions observable in this phenomenon resembling that of synesthesia. The current study shows that the perception of ASMR-associated tingles can be enhanced by means of a prior mindfulness exercise in which attention is drawn to the body. This finding contributes to a better understanding of the crossmodal mechanisms behind ASMR and emphasizes the role that attentional processes play in its unfolding.