ASMR amplifies low frequency and reduces high frequency oscillations

Abstract

Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) describes an atypical multisensory experience of calming, tingling sensations in response to a specific subset of social audiovisual triggers. To date, the electrophysiological (EEG) correlates of ASMR remain largely unexplored. Here we sought to provide source-level signatures of oscillatory changes induced by this phenomenon and investigate potential decay effects-oscillatory changes in the absence of self-reported ASMR. We recorded brain activity using EEG as participants watched ASMR-inducing videos and self-reported changes in their state: no change (Baseline); enhanced relaxation (Relaxed); and ASMR sensations (ASMR). Statistical tests in the sensor-space were used to inform contrasts in the source-space, executed with beamformer reconstruction. ASMR modulated oscillatory power by decreasing high gamma (52-80 Hz) relative to Relaxed and by increasing alpha (8-13 Hz) and decreasing delta (1-4 Hz) relative to Baseline. At the source level, ASMR increased power in the low-mid frequency ranges (8-18 Hz) and decreased power in high frequency (21-80 Hz). ASMR decay effects reduced gamma (30-80 Hz) and in the source-space reduced high-beta/gamma power (21-80 Hz). The temporal profile of ASMR modulations in high-frequency power later shifts to lower frequencies (1-8 Hz), except for an enhanced alpha, which persists for up to 45 min post self-reported ASMR. Crucially, these results provide the first evidence that the cortical sources of ASMR tingling sensations may arise from decreases in higher frequency oscillations and that ASMR may induce a sustained relaxation state.