All my life, as far back as I can remember, I would get this relaxing, tingly sensation starting at the back of my scalp and this buzzing in my head at seemingly random moments, up to this day. This sensation puts me in an almost trance-like state, and the feeling can best be described as euphoric.
Now, this may sound weird, and it very well might be. However, just today I found out that there is an actual term for this kind of feeling, and an ENORMOUS community of "experiencers" just like me.
The sensation is called Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR). There's a pretty good summary of it at http://anti-valentine.hubpages.com/hub/ASMR
I first began to notice this in kindergarten, when one of my friends was explaining to me how to play chess. I remember him speaking clearly and deliberately as he showed me each piece and what they do. As I listened to him, I slipped into what seemed like a full-on trance, absolutely overcome by this incredibly relaxing, tingly feeling. I know for a fact that this feeling is like a trance because I remember thinking afterwards, "Yeah that's great....but I still have no idea how to play chess."
Since then, I've come to identify various personal "triggers," such as:
Being shown how to do something in a certain way
Following simple instructions
Certain voices - mostly female, soft-spoken, and with certain tones (it's very hard to specify)
Repetition - most specifically somebody softly saying phrases like "mhm" over and over again
Certain constant noises like a pencil against paper
Overhearing other people talking in a foreign language.
I know I always get this feeling when I go to the eye doctor
And it's worth mentioning that none of these are GUARANTEED triggers. Sometimes I'll experience this kind of stuff and feel nothing at all. It's just that every time I've experienced a sudden onset of ASMR, it's been during the above moments.
I most recently got this feeling a few minutes ago. It was brought to my attention while editing a homemade video for a Miles Davis project. For the most part, we have a guy playing Miles Davis answering questions posed by an offscreen interviewer. During one part, Miles Davis is sketching what the interviewer looks like while answering the question and giving simple instructions like "lean a little to the left...yeah, that's good," speaking in the characteristic Miles Davis raspy whisper.
Not everybody experiences it. Hell, until a few months ago, I legitimately thought I was the only one! Therefore, some of you might find this weird or strange. Personally, as a "Type B ASMR Experiencer," I find this endlessly fascinating, and I thought I'd share my finds here. What do y'all think?