What is ASMR?

Do ASMR Sounds Improve Sleep?

Many people who experience ASMR claim that listening to ASMR triggers before bed helps them fall asleep. In one survey, 81% of respondents stated their preferred time for listening to ASMR triggers was in the evening before bed. While using ASMR to induce sleepiness appears to be common among people who respond to it, these claims are mostly anecdotal in nature and researchers have yet to confirm whether ASMR can consistently promote sleepiness on an emotional and physiological level for those who respond to it.

ASMR is thought to promote comfort and relaxation by invoking an emotional response that is similar to the way people feel during interactions between parents and children, loved ones, and close friends. During these so-called affiliative behaviors, the body releases dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins, which induce feelings of sleepiness and relaxation.

Some people claim that ASMR can alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. Substantiating such claims is difficult without empirical evidence or rigorous scientific research concerning the relationship between ASMR and these conditions. However, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain are all proven barriers to healthy sleep and leading risk factors for sleep disorders like insomnia².

References: 

¹=Frontiersin.org

²=Sleep.org