The modulatory effects of autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) on pain
Pain Rep. 2026 Aug 5;11(5):e1487. doi: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001487. eCollection 2026 Oct.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a cross-sensory phenomenon experienced by an estimated 20% of the population and characterised by a calming, pleasurable tingling sensation triggered by audio-visual or tactile stimuli. Prior work suggests that ASMR experiencers show heightened pain sensitivity but similar pain tolerance to nonexperiencers, and emerging evidence points to possible analgesic effects.
OBJECTIVES: This study sought to replicate and extend these findings using a larger sample, pain threshold as an index of pain perception, and sex as a variable.
METHODS: Male and female ASMR experiencers (N = 20) and controls (N = 20) completed algometer testing at baseline, during an ASMR-inducing video, and during a control video. Pain thresholds and visual analogue pain ratings were collected, and participants reported whether they experienced ASMR tingling in each condition.
RESULTS: ASMR experiencers reported higher pain ratings than controls (P = 0.017) but showed comparable pain thresholds (P = 0.963). Among ASMR experiencers, experiencing tingles was associated with increased pain threshold (P = 0.012). Women overall exhibited lower thresholds (P = 0.001) and showed no condition-related changes, whereas men demonstrated increased thresholds during both videos (P = 0.009, P = 0.007), suggesting a distraction-related buffering effect for men. Descriptively, male ASMR experiencers mirrored this pattern, while female ASMR experiencers showed elevated thresholds only during the ASMR video.
CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that ASMR may modulate pain perception and that sex differences influence pain-related responses. They highlight ASMR's potential as an analgesic mechanism and underscore the importance of incorporating sex as a factor in future ASMR pain research.
PMID:42565177 | PMC:PMC13446973 | DOI:10.1097/PR9.0000000000001487