Whispers, taps and tingles — what is ASMR?

This episode was first broadcast in September 2021.

Have you heard of ASMR?

Whispery, clicky, crinkly videos are massive on YouTube - racking up millions of views.

The idea is that these sounds elicit a certain tingly, calming sensation in some people.

So what is ASMR and what does the science tell us about it?

Is it real … or pseudoscience? And why do some people get the opposite reaction – irritation rather than these pleasant tingles?