Cape Town - 2026 ISMRM-ISMRT Annual Meeting and Exhibition
9 May 2026 – 14 May 2026 · Cape Town, South Africa
460-01-014 ISMRM Abstract

The Science of Calm: Functional connectivity insights into ASMR and Meditation for Well-being

Primary: Brain Function and fMRI - Functional Connectivity
Secondary: Neuro - Head & Neck/ENT
460-01-014 · Brain Physiology and Pain · Tuesday, 12 May, 8:20 AM–9:15 AM · Digital Posters Row A
Keywords: fMRI (resting state) Functional Connectivity Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) Emotion Regulation Meditation
Accepted
Adnan Alahmadi 1,2,3, Shahad Alsafi1, Jumana Khateri1, Almotazbillah bedaiwi1, Norah Y Hakami3, Jamaan Alghamdi1
1Radiologic Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences,, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2NMR Research unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
3Radiological Sciences, Batterjee Medical College, Saudi Arabia
Presenting Author: Adnan Alahmadi

Synopsis

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References

1. Barratt EL, Davis NJ. Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR): A flow-like mental state. PeerJ. 2015.
2. Poerio GL et al. More than a feeling: physiological responses during ASMR. R Soc Open Sci. 2018.
3. Smith SD, Fredborg BK, Kornelsen J. ASMR experience and brain activation. Front Psychol. 2019.
4. Farb NAS et al. Attending to the present: mindfulness and emotion regulation. J Cogn Neurosci. 2007.
5. Tang YY et al. The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2015.
6. Lochte BC et al. Neural correlates of ASMR. Bioimpacts. 2018.
7. Craig AD. How do you feel—now? Interoception and emotion. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2009.
8. Davidson RJ, McEwen BS. Social influences on neuroplasticity. Nat Neurosci. 2012.
9. Brewer JA et al. Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity. PNAS. 2011.
10. Kim H et al. Neural mechanisms of reward and emotion processing. Front Hum Neurosci. 2017.
11. Poerio GL, Blakey E, Hostler TJ, Veltri T. ASMR experience: emotional and physiological underpinnings. Psychophysiology. 2020.
12. Fox KC et al. Is meditation associated with altered brain connectivity? Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014.
13. Taren AA, Gianaros PJ, Greco CM et al. Mindfulness meditation training alters stress-related amygdala resting-state functional connectivity. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2015.
14. Smith SD et al. The default mode network and relaxation: a functional MRI analysis of ASMR. Front Hum Neurosci. 2021.
15. Afonso RF et al. Meditation and well-being: fMRI evidence. Brain Imaging Behav. 2020.
16. Hölzel BK et al. Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Res. 2011.

Cite this abstract

http://echo.ismrm.org/p/ISMRM2026/460-01-014