Visual Perception and Sensory Engagement in ASMR Videos: An Affective Computing Perspective

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is an audiovisual phenomenon characterized by tingling sensations and deep relaxation triggered by whispering, tapping, facial expressions, and hand gestures. While previous research has focused mainly on the acoustic features of ASMR, its visual dimension remains critically understudied despite being central to the multisensory experience. This paper presents the first comprehensive computational investigation of key visual triggers in ASMR videos. To the best of our knowledge, no prior work has quantitatively analyzed visual features in ASMR; existing studies address only auditory triggers or offer only qualitative commentary. Using a multimodal framework that integrates temporal color variance, motion dynamics, and three-dimensional facial and hand landmark modeling, we identify the visual components that differentiate highly engaging ASMR content from less engaging material. Our results show that stable facial expressions and hand postures enhance social presence and emotional comfort, while dynamic variations in motion and color reflect stylistic differences across creators. These visual patterns shape viewer engagement in ways linked to both performer style and audience psychological preferences. More broadly, our findings offer a quantitative foundation for optimizing the visual design of ASMR and other calming audiovisual media used for relaxation and affective regulation.