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Differences in brain functional connectivity between autonomous sensory meridian response and classical music.

Misuzu Oishi, Kei Sasaki, Noriko Sakurai, Naoki Kodama

Frontiers in Neuroscience 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2026.1815703 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational cohort Peer reviewed
Sample size 48
Population Healthy adults without a history of psychiatric disorders
Interventions ASMR triggers classical music
Topics Default mode network
Keywords FMRI Functional connectivity Salience network
Key findings ASMR trigger listening increases functional connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and right lateral parietal cortex, left anterior insula and left supramarginal gyrus, and right rostral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex, compared with classical music listening.

Abstract

Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a tingling sensation that originates in the occipital region and spreads along the neck and spine, elicited by specific audiovisual stimuli known as ASMR triggers. The characteristics of ASMR-related changes in brain activity relative to other external stimuli, and whether these changes are specific to ASMR, remain unclear. The aim of this study is to compare changes in functional connectivity during exposure to ASMR triggers and classical music, and to clarify the changes in connectivity that are more strongly associated with ASMR trigger listening. Forty-eight healthy adults without a history of psychiatric disorders underwent functional MRI under three conditions: resting state without auditory stimulation, listening to ASMR triggers, and listening to classical music. Functional connectivity during the ASMR and classical-music conditions was assessed relative to the resting state. As a result, functional connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and the right lateral parietal cortex increased during ASMR trigger listening compared to rest. Relative to classical music listening, ASMR trigger listening increased functional connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and the right lateral parietal cortex, between the left anterior insula and left supramarginal gyrus, and between the right rostral prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex. No significant changes in functional connectivity were observed during classical music listening alone. These findings suggest that, compared with classical music listening, ASMR trigger listening is associated with stronger functional connectivity between specific ROI pairs involved in self-referential/internal evaluative processing and sensory integration.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on default mode network, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
A default mode of brain function Normal adult human brain 2001 Observational study
Resting-State Functional Connectivity Reflects Structural Connectivity in the Default Mode Network Healthy subjects 2008 Observational cohort
Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls 2005 Observational cohort n = 20
Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls 2011 Observational cohort
The precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex plays a pivotal role in the default mode network: Evidence from a partial correlation network analysis Healthy subjects 2008 Observational study

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