Abstract:

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), characterized by a pleasurable tingling sensation triggered by specific audiovisual stimuli, offers a unique window into the brain’s processing of emotional stimuli. Existing research indicates that the induction of ASMR temporarily suppresses an individual’s cognitive control functions. However, it remains unclear whether this effect is state- or trait-dependent, at which specific stage of cognitive control it operates, and what its underlying cognitive neural bases are. To address these gaps, the present research systematically investigates the development and mechanisms of ASMR by integrating developmental psychology and dynamic neurocognitive approaches, with a focus on adolescence—a critical period for the maturation of cognitive control networks.

The core innovation of this work lies in its multi-method, multi-group design that moves beyond the simple dichotomy of ASMR responders versus non-responders. First, acknowledging substantial heterogeneity, we propose a tripartite classification: Typical Responders (strong tingling with positive affect), Atypical Responders (moderate tingling with negative affect), and Non-responders. This classification enables a nuanced examination of how perceptual and emotional dimensions of ASMR relate differentially to cognitive control. Second, we concurrently assess two distinct types of cognitive control—perceptual control and emotional control—to disentangle their specific roles in ASMR phenomenology. Third, we employ a developmental lens, tracking these processes from early adolescence (age 10) to young adulthood (age 24), to determine whether ASMR-related differences in cognitive control reflect transient states or enduring traits.

The research program consists of three integrated studies. Study 1 uses a cross-sectional behavioral design to map the developmental trajectories of perceptual control (Study 1a) and emotional control (Study 1b) across the three types of responders. Participants complete cognitive control tasks before and after exposure to a standardized ASMR audio trigger. By comparing baseline (pre-trigger) and post-trigger performance across ages, we examine whether group differences are evident only following trigger exposure (suggesting a state effect) or are also present at baseline (suggesting a trait effect).

Study 2 employs event-related potentials (ERPs) to elucidate the temporal dynamics of cognitive control processing in ASMR responders. Focusing on the developmental stage where ASMR’s impact is most pronounced (identified in Study 1) and a mature young adult group (21-24 years), Study 2a (perceptual control) and 2b (emotional control) record neural activity during cognitive tasks administered pre- and post-ASMR trigger. This approach aims to identify the specific processing stages (e.g., early selection, conflict monitoring, response inhibition) modulated by ASMR at different developmental points.

Study 3 investigates the electrophysiological foundations of ASMR’s impact on cognitive control. Using EEG, we capture oscillatory power changes across frequency bands (e.g., alpha, theta) during ASMR tingling episodes in typical and atypical responders. Crucially, we then employ canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to model the multivariate relationships between these neural oscillatory patterns and the observed behavioral changes in perceptual and emotional control (from Study 1). This modeling technique can delineate unique and shared neural correlates of the two cognitive control types and their interaction.

Synthesizing these approaches, we propose a novel model mapping changes in brain oscillatory patterns to alterations in perceptual and emotional control following ASMR induction. This model aims to specify the EEG components and cortical rhythms associated with each control type and their interactions, informed by temporal and spatial profiles. The anticipated findings promise significant theoretical advances. By clarifying the state/trait nature of ASMR’s cognitive effects and pinpointing its impact on specific control processes and neural signatures, this research will provide new evidence on how the brain regulates perceptual and emotional responses to external affective stimuli. It challenges homogeneous views of ASMR by formally incorporating affective valence, offering a refined framework for understanding individual differences in sensory-emotional processing.

This work also carries substantial applied implications. Approximately 39.4% of the population reports ASMR susceptibility, yet misunderstanding and stigmatization persist. A scientific explanation of its mechanisms will help eliminate the public’s misunderstandings and stigmatization about the ASMR phenomenon and provide support for the mental health of adolescents with such emotional responses. Furthermore, clarifying ASMR’s neurocognitive pathways can inform and optimize its growing clinical application in managing anxiety, insomnia, and stress, promoting evidence-based, non-pharmacological interventions.

In summary, this research innovatively combines developmental comparison, refined phenotyping, dual cognitive control foci, and multimodal neuro-behavioral modeling to systematically unravel the emergence, development, and neural basis of ASMR. It advances fundamental knowledge of cognitive-affective brain function while addressing societal and clinical needs related to atypical sensory-emotional experiences.

Key words: cognitive control, adolescent mental development, autonomous sensory meridian response