Is ASMR Engineerable? A Signal Processing and User Experience Study

Abstract

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) has been remarkably popular in the recent decade, yet whether its effects can be deliberately engineered remains an open question. While ASMR effects validated through behavioral studies and neuro-physiological measurements such as electroencephalography (EEG) and related bio-signals, the acoustic mechanisms that trigger it remain poorly understood. We investigate whether ASMR responses can be systematically induced through controlled acoustic design, hypothesizing that cyclic patterns where predictability drives relaxation and variation sustains intrigue are key engineerable parameters. Specifically, we design cyclic sound patterns with varying predictability and randomness, and evaluate their effects via a structured user study. Signal processing-based feature extraction and regression analysis are used to establish an interpretable mapping between acoustic structure and perceived ASMR effects. Results show that relaxing effects accumulate progressively, are independent of spatial orientation, and remain stable across time. Crucially, smoothly spread, energy-dense cyclic patterns most effectively trigger ASMR, suggesting that signal-level engineering of ASMR experiences is achievable