Have you ever tried to solace yourself with a billowing slime? 45% of adults watch ´oddly satisfying´ videos and audios on TikTok on a weekly basis. ASMR – autonomous sensory meridian response – categories like Binaural beats, zit-popping content are growing genres on social media platforms. Artists are merging physical and digital art by filming cues of one task. As we watch and play with ´ourselves´, a turquoise fluff globe suddenly clamps between our toes. We rub the insides, and repeat the motion until we hear the texture. But how can these sensory experiences help us to fall as sleep?
WHAT IS A TINGLY BRAIN?
“Brain tingles” often describes the reaction of ASMR. A brain massage can be an unexpected fulfillment. The static sensation is translated along the neck, across the shoulders and up the scalp. According to Craig Richard, a professor with a Ph.D. of physiology at Shenandoah University in Virginia and founder of ASMR university, this physiological reaction has existed way before the digital age. Through whispering, personal attention, crisp sounds and slow movement as reported triggers.
MIRROR NEURON THEORY
Between the ages of 5 and 10, most people seem to feel ASMR for the first time, reports the medical advisory board from sleepfoundation.org. Through the ´mirror neuron theory´, viewer observe another person performing a task whilst having the feeling – a neurological response – that it is themselves doing it. This therapeutic practice gives us the chance to pause our frayed nerves from scrolling. We can vault our attention span. Easing stress and tension, falling as sleep to slime molds, crunching cornstarch or cake mirror glazing.
HOW CAN WE HAVE “GOLDILOCKS FEELINGS”?
Muffled chatter, slicing soap cubes and linocut techniques – slowly moving textures can be mesmerizing. Artist Cole Newman plays with circular movements to make a flying bucket paint the picture. The pendulum moves like a spiral atom when it generates a pattern in the void between symmetry and asymmetry. Psychologists have defined this sense of satisfaction as Goldilocks feelings. This perception of accomplishing better than expected has a direct impact on affect, mood, and error dynamics.
ACE THEORIES
Looking at the ACE theories – achievement, competence and affectance – we are instantly rewarded with a temporary relief when dopamine and serotonin is released into our brains. When sensing, chemicals like endorphins and oxytocin, we receive feels of relaxation. “Quantastic” is a YouTube platform offering these soothing screens to the oddly satisfying community. Consisting of around 300 oddly satisfying videos in a one hour video. From liquids and particles to engineering and sculpting – child like our eyes can enter the macro worlds.
