Millions of TikTok users are watching ASMR videos of glass containers rolled down steps before smashing. While some find it relaxing, others find it irritating, says this neuroscientist.
LANCASTER, England: Millions of TikTok users are watching videos of the viral bottle-smashing trend, in which bottles and jars filled with drinks or food are rolled down steps before smashing.the autonomous sensory meridian response that the videos evoke
While the videos are usually multi-sensory it is primarily the audio component - the gentle, typically low-frequency sounds produced - that seems to lead some viewers to experience ASMR.ASMR is being studied in psychology laboratories while researchers try to discern what exactly might be happening in the brains of people who enjoy these videos. Research into the electrical activity of the brain may shed some light on the neurophysiology that underpins ASMR experiences.
Typically, lower-frequency activity in the brain is associated with a more relaxed brain state. It was observed that ASMR-inducing videos corresponded to reductions in the higher-frequency electrical activity of the brain and increases in the lower-frequency electrical activity. Increases in lower-frequency activity appeared to be maintained for 45 minutes after viewing ASMR-inducing videos.
But bottle-smashing videos don’t leave everyone feeling relaxed. Some viewers report feelings of stress or sensory overwhelm. The extent of the negative response varies for different people, from mild irritation to rage.
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