ASMR

ASMR

Dr Craig Richard Ph.D.

 

 

Giving the world tingles is the new art form ASMR. Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is an audio and visual phenomenon that has gained popularity through YouTube, where thousands of artists continue to post their relaxation videos.

 

What is ASMR

 

ASMR is a term coined in by cyber security professional Jennifer Allen, who in 2010 identified common sensations she and other Facebookers experienced. The sensations included tingles from the head to the body and mild euphoria, prompted by soothing, repetitive sounds and actions.

Although similar to hypnosis ASMR is so called because it doesn’t just relax its subjects, it provokes peaking waves of pleasure.

 

How does ASMR work

 

One man who has studied the phenomenon is Dr Craig Richard, Ph.D. in Physiology and Cell Biology and founder of the ASMR University (an online resource sharing centre).

While Dr Richard admits more research is needed to discover the cause of ASMR, he hypothesises that it mimics interpersonal bonding – such as that of a parent and child – and causes similar feelings of comfort.

He said: “ASMR and bonding behaviours share similar triggers like gentle touches and soft voices between individuals that trust each other, and also have similar responses like feeling comforted, feeling relaxed, and feeling secure. 

“Some of the basic biology of bonding is well established and this involves specific behaviours, which stimulate the release of endorphins, dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin. These bonding behaviours and molecules may provide a good explanation for most of the triggers and responses associated with ASMR.”

Dr Richard summarised that endorphins were likely to be the source of ASMR ‘tingles’; dopamine the source of ASMR’s moreish nature; oxytocin for the reduction of stress and serotonin for the elevation in mood incurred by ASMR.

 

Does ASMR work for everyone

 

Dr Richard suggested the key to understanding ASMR lay in ASMR insusceptibility and cited a 2016 study by Smith, Fredborga and Kornelsen.

He said: “This study demonstrated that people who experience ASMR may have different neuronal connections in their brains.”

The study compared the default mode network (daydreaming part of the brain) of 11 individuals with ASMR to that of 11 matched controls. The results indicated DMN of individuals with ASMR showed ‘significantly less functional connectivity’ than that of the controls, but also increased ‘blending of multiple resting-state networks’.

These network conditions seem to make some people genetically more likely to experience the phenomenon than others.

However, Dr Richard noted that even those who easily experienced ASMR could build a tolerance to its triggers (such as whispering) when faced with repeated exposure.

He said: “ASMR is probably mediated by neurotransmitters or neurohormones because tolerance is a typical response to repeated stimulation of a receptor.

“Receptors are very good at becoming less sensitive over time in response to the same stimulus, this is especially true for endorphin receptors. This is why people who repeatedly use morphine or oxycodone (which bind to endorphin receptors) need more drug to get the same response over time.”

Dr Richard said that if ASMR were confirmed to trigger endorphins it would explain ASMR tolerance.

 

Can ASMR help treat illness

 

Aside from recreation, fans have started to debate whether ASMR might also help lessen the experience of pain and illness.

Dr Richard said: “There are many anecdotal reports on the internet of people sharing how ASMR has been helpful for their insomnia, anxiety, and/or depression.”

He noted the 2015 publication about ASMR – Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response: A flow-like Mental State – which suggested ASMR might be helpful to individuals suffering from depression or chronic pain.

The doctor explained: “This data set showed that watching ASMR videos boosted the mood of 80% of the participants, and those at high risk for depression had an even greater boost to their mood.”

However, Dr Richard was quick to explain that many more studies must be completed before any real conclusion could be met. He also cautioned that ASMR was no substitute for medical diagnosis and treatment.

He said: My biggest concern is that people may use ASMR to self-treat serious medical issues rather than seeking medical attention. I strongly recommend that individuals talk to a clinician if they think they are suffering from insomnia, depression, anxiety or other serious conditions – and to talk with the clinician about the potential use of ASMR for their condition.”

 

ASMR as Art

 

While its medical value remains unproven ASMR has been embraced – by many- as art. ASMR videos across YouTube feature everything from make-up tutorials, to car maintenance, massage, and role –play; with artists investing hundreds in 3D sound equipment to enrich the experience.

Dr Richard listed some of his favourite ASMR artists as WhispersRed, Tony Bomboni, Deep Ocean of Sounds, SoftlyGaloshes, SoftAnna, Heather Feather, GentleWhispering, JellyBean Green, SensorAdi, Dana ASMR and theASMRnerd.

Reflecting on the vast range of ASMR videos available, Dr Richard offered ASMR artists advice.

He said: “Artists should be genuine and not expect everyone to love the type of ASMR they create. ASMR is a personal and specific experience triggered by many different stimuli.”

To help gain further insight into ASMR, the doctor encouraged readers to go to the ASMR University and take part in its survey.

He concluded: The wider goal of the website is to help to encourage others to further spread the awareness of ASMR and/or to get involved with research to help understand it better.”

Summer Movies at Loch Lomond Shores

Summer Movies

 

Nothing says summer like open- air cinema and that’s what is coming to Loch Lomond shores this July 2 -3.

Organised by the events arm of alfresco caterers Firedog; the Summer Movies will show two days of free family-films, on the big screen.

Firedog Events partner Jonathan Stipanovsky explained: “We are going to have a 60m screen – one of the biggest in the UK – pulled down onto the beach. The top half of the beach will host a 18 by 6 meter bar tent, cornered off with white picket fencing, leading down to a deck chaired area by the screen.”

Launching at 10am Saturday with cartoons; Summer Movies will continue with Finding Nemo at noon, Jamanji at 2pm, Back to the Future at 5pm and Jurassic Park at7.30pm.

These box office classics were chosen so that families could enjoy the films without loosing the plot, should they stop for a break.

Stipanovsky said: “We choose films that were good action films that everyone has seen and loved. The idea is that people can arrive at any point of the film, sit with some food and drink and enjoy their favourite bits.”

Easy viewing continues on Sunday with another 10am cartoon start; followed by Toy Story at noon, The Goonies at 2.30pm, Dirty Dancing at 5pm and The Lost Boys at 8pm.

All of the showings are free to attend, but seating is likely to fill up fast.

Stipanovsky added: “We have deck chairs and picnic benches at the front of the cinema. It’s first-come- first- served on seating, but being at the beach people can bring their towels.”

As well as two seating areas, Firedog Events has organised food to compliment the films.

Stipanovsky said: “Firedog will be there – in our fire engine catering van – serving gourmet hotdogs, fries, nachos and Aberdeen Angus burgers. Joining us will be Bowl Food, offering a range of hot treats from a converted ambulance. Firebird will also be on hand, serving up stone-baked pizzas; as well as The Buffalo Truck, who will be cooking up fired chicken.”

To wash all this down the bar has a range of treats.

Stipanovsky listed: “The licensed area will have Jaw Brew and Estrella beer, Rekorderlig cider, Daffy’s Gin and a cocktail bar.”

The bar tent will be open from 12pm till late.

With trains every 15 minutes from Glasgow to Balloch, it’s the perfect excuse to leave the car at home. Or – for the designated drivers – the Charlie Mills coffee truck is open from 10am till 10pm.

Stipanovsky concluded: “It’s a free event with a stunning backdrop, massive screen, great films, beach bar and some of people’s favourite food. What’s not to love?”

GFF 2016

GROUP SHOT_CREDIT NEIL THOMAS DOUGLAS

As the curtain rises on Glasgow’s 2016 Film Festival the good times begin to roll.

Running from 17- 28 February, GFF will feature 308 events and 174 films.

Opening the festival is the UK premiere of comedy Hail, Caesar! by Ethan & Joel Coen; and the debuts continue as Richard Gere hits Glasgow to showcase his slice of life film Time Out of Mind. Also joining GFF VIPs is Game of Throne actress Natalie Dormer, who will grace the red carpet for her UK premiere in the horror The Forest.

Another premier will close the festival, as Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson’s love story Anomalisa reels for its first UK audience.

Film critic Alan Laidlaw said: “This year is set to be another great one for the GFF, with some top films having their UK and European premieres; this can only help to grow the reputation of the festival.”

But it’s not just premiers stealing the limelight at GFF 2016; the festival also celebrates Hollywood’s golden age with free morning matinees; before staging modern classics in pop up locations.

Both Raiders of the Lost Ark and Silence of the Lambs will be screened at Kelvingrove Art Gallery; then Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet will be served with ‘poison vial’ cocktails in Trades Hall. As well as this, news satire Network will reel in BBC Scotland (Glasgow); Thelma & Louise will hoe down at the Grand Ole Opry; and Con Air will be shown in a mystery located ‘prison bus’.

Glasgow Film Festival Co-Director Allison Gardner said: “I’m really delighted with this year’s programme. The festival keeps moving forward whilst also maintaining its roots as audience-focused; everyone can come together to share a love of cinema.”

Foreign film lovers will also rejoice at the GFF ‘Country Focus’ strand; which this year showcases Argentinean drama, travel and crime movies.

Allan Hunter, Glasgow Film Festival Co-Director, said: “I’m excited to introduce audiences to real gems like Pablo Trapero’s gripping crime drama The Clan in our Argentine focus.”

After crossing continents, the GFF crosses space with D A Pennebaker’s documentary Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, paying homage to the late David Bowie. The showing will be followed by documentary short Let’s Dance: Bowie Down Under.

With such a range of flicks GFF attendees will have a hard time voting for this year’s Audience Award. The Scottish Power sponsored comp will see ten of the festival’s new director films fight for first place.

Film critic Alan Laidlaw lamented the choice.

He said: Having attended the festival as a fan and critic I’ve been able to see both sides; and every year GFF surpasses expectations in the quality of its cinema and unique events.”

“I’m particularly looking forward to seeing Louder Than Bombs, the great Norwegian director Joachim Trier’s first feature film in English.”

He concluded: “The GFF is always one of the highlights of Glasgow’s cultural calendar.”

The Only Way is Ethics

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Social conscience stirs as Glasgow plans its alternative lifestyle festival. The Only Way Ethics will busy the city, from November 29 to December 6, with ethical discussions focused on improving Glasgow.

Organiser Craig Tannock said: “Some of the issues the festival will cover include the energy crisis, anti austerity, women’s activism, ethical arts funding and organic food.”

 He explained: “The festival will cover issues in a range of ways, such as panel discussions, theatre events, film screenings and community meals.”

Food will also reign supreme at Vegfest Scotland, the Vegan exhibition that is partnering the festival. This exhibition will run in the SECC, during the last two days of The only Way is Ethics. Vegfest Scotland will offer information, demonstration and delectation.

Tannock explained: “Vegfest is a huge event, but for the rest of the festival we encouraged smaller venues to get involved. We wanted to make the festival accessible to everyone; so it has a variety of spaces for people to engage with experts and others on ethical issues.”

These spaces will be found in venues throughout the city, including The University of Glasgow, Chemikal Underground Records, Glasgow Women’s Library, and Toonspeak Young People’s Theatre.

While most venues are open to all ages, Tannock explained that some licensed events won’t admit children, and other events have adult themes.

He said: “Some events are for a more adult audience, such as the talk and screening of a film about vCJD in the food chain. This kind of event doesn’t make for easy consumption and people would probably decide not to bring children; however we will leave it to them to decide.”

As well as heavy discussion the festival will have light entertainment. Nowhere is this truer than in its opening gig at St Luke’s. The venue (near the Barrowlands) will host Radio 2 Folk Award winner, Karine Polwart and artist Ela Orleans, among others.

Then, after eight days of events, the festival will close in equal style.

Tannock said: “The closing night will be a real chilled out party at the Flying Duck; with some unannounced surprises. By this point there will have been plenty of chin- scratching, so it will be a purely social event, allowing people to catch up with others they have met.”

Encouraging everyone to come along, Tannock concluded: “The Festival of Ethics provides a space for free thought on social issues; it allows people to get involved in movements that can change lives.”

 

Day of the Dead

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Honouring lives lost and risked for Mexican freedom of Expression is the Mitchell Library Day of the Dead event.

Hosted by The Scottish Writers’ Centre in partnership with Scottish PEN, the event will take place on November 2 -from 5.30pm- in the Glasgow Room.

The free, un-ticketed event will see readings both about the country and from its writers.

Host and writer Jean Rafferty explained: “We’re celebrating the Day of the Dead to honour ‘Absent Friends’ and commemorate the courage of writers, poets, and journalists living and working in Mexico; one of the most dangerous countries in the world for freedom of expression.”

Rafferty has organised the event as part of her role within Scottish PEN.

She explained: “PEN is an international writer’s organisation whose Scottish branch has been gathering for nearly 90 years.

“Scottish PEN supports freedom of expression in every form. For instance, I am chairman at the Writers at Risk society, which supports people who have been threatened for speaking out against their government.”

While the society has paid tribute to Mexican writers before; Rafferty explained that this event has particular significance.

She said: “This year’s Day of the Dead event will be particularly poignant, as we have Mexican writer Lydia Cacho as an honorary Scottish PEN member.”

Rafferty added: “As well as being a great writer, Lydia runs rescue centres for women that have suffered sexual and physical abuse. Lydia’s work will be read at the event.”

The event will also feature readings from Anabel Hernandez, whose novel Narcoland exposes Mexican drug cartel, an exposure which has seen threats on her life.

Rafferty said: “As well as established writers, we will also hear from Mexican student, Bernardo Otaola Valdes, who has written a very moving piece about his plan to go back home and study journalism. Studying journalism in a country like Mexico is dangerous; and shows that Bernardo fits the night’s theme of Courageous Writers”.

She added: “As well as Bernardo’s reading there will be a reading from a Mexican poet, Javier Sicilia’s work. Javier lost his son to the violence, and wishes to share his own final verses.”

Following this there will be an ‘open mic’ section of the night. Here writers can take the stand and respond to the theme: ‘Mexico or Courage in Speaking Out.’

Writers wishing to participate in the open mic section can contact Rafferty via email.

The organiser explained: “The open mic section has seen applications from various people, including Portuguese film writer; Carla Novi, who has made a documentary Desaparecidos, about the disappeared Mexican students.”

Rafferty concluded: “Scottish PEN not only cares about the writers whose lives are endangered in Mexico, but the people all over the country, whose experiences are expressed in the writing.

“Freedom of expression is a basic human right. It is important to support writers because they represent everyone’s struggle.”

Edinburgh International Film Festival

EIFF

The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has cameras rolling and chins wagging with its 69th event.

Opening the festival VIPs – including Robert Carlyle and Ashley Jensen – graced the red carpet for Carlyle’s directorial debut, The Legend of Barney Thomson.

EIFF Recruitment Coordinator Katri Vanhatalo said: “This year’s festival has had a great UK presence, and it has welcomed so many icons of the screen that I feel star-struck!”

Yet the 2015 hype wasn’t all about celebrities, as Vanhatalo explained, it emanated from audience participation.

She said: “This year’s festival is different because it is headquartered at Edinburgh’s Filmhouse cinema; allowing pass-holders and the public a place to share the excitement.”

This interactive spirit started with Film in the City, an EIFF programme of outdoor screenings, which overlap the main festival.

Vanhatalo said: “The screenings take place over two weekends, both of which show family films in a friendly atmosphere.

“On the first weekend there was a dance-a-long show that kept the crowd warm, even in high winds. The outdoor setting brought together film-lovers who wouldn’t otherwise meet.”

This interactivity continues in the festival’s new strand: Doc of the Day; a changing daily feature that explores EIFF non- fiction films, through activities.

Vanhatalo explained: “Doc of the Day will host events like sherry tastings and a rock gig, as well as traditional Q&A discussions.”

This non -fiction focus takes the EIFF back to its 1947 roots; when it was a documentary showcase, held by the Edinburgh Film Guild.

Now the EIFF enjoys the support of Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, EventScotland, Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund and the British Film Institute.

EIFF prides itself in presenting both factual and fictional films from home and abroad.

Vanhatalo said: “Our programme is filled with films from 44 different countries. Some highlights from this year’s programme are the Mexican movie: 600 Miles from Mexico/USA, German film: Who Am I – No System Is Safe, Canadian/Kiwi horror: Turbo Kid, and the Chinese/American film: The Iron Ministry.”

She added: “We have 34 films in our programme with a Scottish connection.

“The Best of British strand shows new films from Scotland, England and Wales, including: Iona, The Pyramid Texts, The Violators, 45 Years and The Marriage of Reason & Squalor.”

These and many more films will compete in the EIFF Awards Ceremony; in Filmhouse 1, on June 26 (1pm). This event is open to the public and free.

Vanhatalo said: “EIFF has a mixture of free events, special events and events attached to film tickets. We also have special discounts, on multi- film purchases, via the EIFF brochure.”

She concluded: “EIFF has something for all ages. It has the Film Fest Junior strand and Inside Out UK premiere for families; The Young and The Wild strand for 15-19 year- olds; and films of an adult nature for others.”

For information on EIFF 2015 or on joining next year’s – 70th anniversary – celebrations visit the festival website.