ASMR (or autonomous sensory meridian response) is the tingling sensation some people experience from certain sounds or visuals – a "brain massage," in the words of Maria Viktorovna, who's been called the "ASMR queen."

ASMR, which stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, refers to a tingling sensation that some people experience in response to certain sounds or visuals, often described as a 'brain massage.' The phenomenon has grown rapidly online, with creators like Maria Viktorovna amassing over a billion video views and helping viewers find calm and relaxation. While only an estimated 20% of people are able to experience ASMR, its popularity has led to mainstream exposure, including appearances in major commercials and the opening of in-person ASMR spas.

Scientific research into ASMR is still in its early stages, but some studies suggest it may be linked to lower blood pressure and heart rate. Experts like Dr. Craig Richard advocate for more clinical research to determine its potential as a medical treatment. For now, most ASMR creators continue to provide content online, offering a sense of peace and escape for their audiences.

Why ASMR is making a lot of noise

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, ASMR, what is it? Faith Saley has the answer. There is a quiet little corner of the internet getting louder and growing larger every day. Welcome to the whispery world of ASMR. Today we are going to make some great ASMR tingles. ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. That very scientific sounding mouthful refers to a pleasant tingling sensation some people experience in response to certain sounds or visuals. Tingly, tingly, tingly. It's a brain massage that's just so satisfying, melts your brain and makes you feel fuzzy and so calm. Maria Viktorovna should know. She's been called the ASMR queen. I love it. It suits me well. With 1.2 billion video views, it's easy to see why. So one of my latest videos I did, shaving of celebrity faces, and people pinpointed, like, oh my God, can you do a whole video of that? So I did the whole video of that. You understand this sounds, I don't want to sound judgmental. This sounds strange. A lot of ASMR triggers are sometimes out there and are very personal. The first ASMR videos came out around 2009. Since then it's been snap. Taking these crackers out of their wrappers. Crackle. They came with my soup. And popping its way into the mainstream. Even into a 2019 Super Bowl commercial. So pure, you can taste it. This is my prop closet. But for Viktorovna, who in 2014 was able to quit her receptionist job. I put the comb in the plastic, but it sounds lovely. And work on her channel full time, the rewards are far beyond financial. I get messages almost every single day. Some of the most touching stories I get are from people who have experienced some kind of hardship. And once they start watching videos, they kind of get lulled into that space of safety and calmness and everything's okay. So this one right here is a brain scan when they were feeling the tingles. It's on fire. Yeah, it's red, orange, yellow colors. It means those are the areas of the brain that are activated. So when someone feels the tingles, they say they feel euphoric. Dr. Craig Richard is a professor of physiology at Shenandoah University in Virginia. He estimates only 20% of people are wired to experience ASMR. Are those of us who don't feel it missing out? The people who are experiencing it will tell you yes, because it's a beautiful thing to be able to just turn on an ASMR video, have this moment of euphoria, then have these moments of relaxation. So, yeah, you may be missing out on that. What else is missing is further research on ASMR. In some studies, it's been linked to lower blood pressure and heart rate. Craig Richard would like to see more. Get that pile of research, especially that clinical-based research, up higher to show that this is a worthy medical treatment. How do you deliver ASMR in someone as a form of therapy? Rebecca Benvey has taken a hands-on approach to ASMR therapy, opening up Whisperwave in New York City. It's one of the few in-person ASMR spas in the world. So there are millions of people watching ASMR videos, and yet there aren't, in real life, ASMR places to go? You know, customers will often say that they can't believe that this isn't more of a thing, and it's true. There's a huge gap in the market. It brings about a feeling of peace, of just, like, calm, like an escape from the real world. And I believe that this is sort of the natural evolution of the videos. It's more in-person experiences that people can seek out. And I think that this is really just the beginning. For now, most ASMRtists, like Maria Viktorovna, are happy to remain online. Whispering sweet nothings. How are you feeling, my dear? That can mean a whole lot. Do you feel relaxed at all? I feel like a lot of people are stressed. And ASMR is so easy, because it's online. You can just watch a video, and as you watch it, it somehow transports you into a different place, into a little island of peace. Let your light shine.

President Donald Trump's envoy met with the Qatari prime minister on Saturday in Spain to discuss possible deals to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, as Israel's military plans to expand into Gaza City. Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages and Palestinians alike are pleading for peace.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Middle East Conflict

Families of Israeli hostages, Palestinians plead for ceasefire

Renewed anti-government protests have taken place in Israel, where relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas demanded their release and an end to the brutal war Israel has been waging in Gaza.

Israeli anti-government protesters take to the streets in Tel Aviv

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Kyiv "values and fully supports" a joint statement by European leaders that welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to try to end the war, while emphasizing the need to pressure Russia and provide security guarantees for Kyiv.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Europe stresses need to protect Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin meet

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has firmly rejected Russia’s proposal requiring land concessions to end the war. Ukrainian and European officials have submitted a counterproposal to Washington.

Ukraine, Europe counter Russian ceasefire proposal ahead of US talks

There have been more protests, and counter protests, in several British towns and cities, outside of hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers. Some far-right protesters called for one of the hotels to stop housing migrants.

Bournemouth

UK: Anti-immigration & anti-racism protesters face off

A man who opened fire on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, firing into the complex from a pharmacy and killing a police officer, blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal, according to reports.

Atlanta

Vaccine conspiracy could be behind Atlanta shooting

The Gifford Fire burning through the rugged backcountry of California's Central Coast is now the state's largest wildfire of the year. It has reached so-called "mega-fire" status and is one of 38 large fires burning across nine states.

San Luis Obispo

Largest California wildfire of 2025 reaches "mega fire" status

President Trump is preparing to take another swing at a deal with President Putin during a high-stakes summit next Friday in Anchorage, Alaska. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the country will never give up land, even if it means an end to the war.

Anchorage

Trump: Ukraine must cede land for ceasefire; Zelenskyy refuses

The United Nations Security Council is set to hold a rare Sunday meeting to discuss Israel's plan to intensify its 22-month war with Hamas by taking control of Gaza City. CBS News' Debora Patta reports on the conflict and the mounting humanitarian crisis.

Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza comes under fire

At least 200 protesters have been arrested at a rally showing solidarity for Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Parliament in London. Crowds are also demonstrating against a ban on the Palestine Action group, after it was designated as a terrorist organisation.

London

London:  Hundreds arrested during Palestine action protest

After almost four decades of a bloody conflict that until recently had no end in sight, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a peace agreement in the presence of the US President Donald Trump. Notably absent in this historic moment is Russia, which no longer plays a central role in the South Caucasus.

Washington

Azerbaijan and Armenia sign historic agreement

Montana's governor said that the dayslong manhunt for the suspect in a bar shooting has ended. 45-year-old Michael Brown was taken into custody on Friday.

Anaconda

Montana bar shooting suspect captured after weeklong manhunt

President Trump announced Friday that he will hold a one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15 in Alaska. The summit comes as Russia has been pushing to keep all the Ukrainian territory it gained from its invasion. Nancy Cordes and Margaret Brennan have the latest.

Trump, Putin to hold meeting in Alaska next week

The U.S. Department of Justice issued subpoenas in its investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James. CBS News' Jake Rosen reports.

New York

Trump's DOJ subpoenas New York AG Letitia James

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will meet in the coming days, the Kremlin said on Thursday (August 7), as the U.S. president seeks a breakthrough to end the Ukraine war after voicing mounting frustration with his Russian counterpart and threatening him with new sanctions.

Moscow

Kremlin says Trump, Putin to meet soon; Ukraine seeks role for Europe

U.S. President Donald Trump's rushed deadline for Russia to strike a ceasefire deal or face more sanctions has arrived without much movement from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump deadline for Russia to reach ceasefire arrives

Protesters in Israel are voicing their concerns about a plan approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet to take over Gaza City. CBS News' Debora Patta has more.

Jerusalem

Israel's security cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza City

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel intends to take full military control of Gaza and push a new offensive, despite mounting international criticism over the war’s human toll and growing hunger crisis.

Israel intends to take full control of Gaza, Netanyahu says

U.S. President Donald Trump said that there is a good chance he'll meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin soon over Russia's war with Ukraine.

Trump says 'good chance' he'll meet with Putin soon

U.S. President Donal Trump officially began levying higher import taxes on dozens of countries on Thursday (August 7), just as the economic fallout of his months-long tariff threats was beginning to create visible damage to the U.S. economy.

Global Tariffs

Higher U.S. tariffs officially take effect

The man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., earlier this year has been charged with federal hate crime charges. CBS News Justice reporter Jake Rosen has more.

Hate crime charges filed in killings of Israeli Embassy staffers

As Sean "Diddy" Combs awaits his sentencing, his lead attorney Marc Agnifilo says he has not talked to anyone at the White House about a possible pardon.

Sean "Diddy" Combs' attorney says he hasn't had talks about a pardon

Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, blamed Hamas when asked about starvation in Gaza, saying, "Hamas has not allowed the food to get to the people who are hungry." Huckabee also addressed questions over the controversial aid sites.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel faces questions over starvation in Gaza

On "T-Day," the US began enforcing Trump's new tariffs, raising average rates from 2% to 15% after a 90-day pause allowed some countries to negotiate reduced deals while others, like India and Brazil, faced hikes. These tariffs have generated over $150 billion in revenue by July, impacting various sectors and aiming to address trade imbalances.

U.S. begins collecting Trump's new global tariffs

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says he plans to call the leaders of China and India, to discuss a joint response to new US tariffs. The announcement came as Brazil and India were hit with 50 percent levies - the highest imposed by President Donald Trump.

State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil halts U.S. trade talks as Lula condemns new tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil in a move that sharply escalated tensions between the two nations after trade talks reached a deadlock.

Breakdown