This story was originally published on Passionfruit.
As we sit down for a virtual interview, Amy Kay is barely recognizable on Zoom. Like many other ASMR content creators, Amy Kay integrates cosplay and fantasy fiction into her videos—so I had imagined I would be meeting an almost larger-than-life character with elaborate makeup, colorful hair, and blue skin. Instead, she’s barefaced with her blonde hair tied into a loose ponytail and wearing a simple gray top.
ASMR, for the uninitiated, stands for autonomous sensory meridian response. According to a study from Plos One, the practice can help people relax and sleep through a set of “triggers” which create a response also known as “tingles.” The study found that ASMR may be beneficial to mental and physical health and is associated with reduced heart rates and higher skin conductance levels. According to the American Sleep Association, “ASMR is typically triggered by certain sounds or personal attention, and is also sometimes visual.”
