Cortical auditory modelling has gained traction in the past few years. Particularly, the caudal auditory fields have been theorised to play a role in auditory-somatosensory and auditory-spatial convergence in humans but is yet to be tested empirically. The challenge is identifying a viable medium to investigate such cross-modal interactions. To this end, a relatively recent perceptual phenomenon known as the autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) was theorised as a candidate to explore these neural cross-modal relationships. ASMR is described as a pleasant experience encompassing a somatosensory tingling sensation and feeling of relaxation characteristically reported to be emotionally positive and triggered via audiovisual stimulation. Despite a growing literature that has attributed the response with phenomenological characteristics, as well as personality and empathic, physiological, and neural profiles, there is still no mechanistic account of ASMR. There is also a comparison between ASMR and other similar perceptual phenomena including synaesthesia, frisson, and misophonia. With ASMR research on the rise, it is surprising to find no literature review to cover and bridge the present understandings of the phenomenon.

This thesis introduces the theory behind auditory cross-modal integration followed by two literature reviews encompassing all aspects of ASMR covered within the literature and beyond. Proceeding this is a collection of studies that have explored the phenomenology of, and association between ASMR and other perceptual phenomena including mirror-touch synaesthesia (MTS) and misophonia. The thesis will end with an overall conclusion and future research.