Sleeping With ASMR

In a previous blog post I mentioned that Dr James Gill was sufficiently prolific in the world of medical exams that it would be inevitable we would return to his own channel at some point in this blog.

I’m not sure if it is built into the YouTube algorithm but every time I look for a medical exam video Dr James Gill will occur at least once on that list. He is obviously dedicated.

This is one I chose for today’s blog:

Respiratory Examination Master Class

But this is one of a great many

Examining the YouTube channel Dr James Gill we find approximately one hundred and sixty nine videos as at todays date. The longest blog item I ever did was twenty three and I feel that was far too long.

In time honoured tradition (for this blog anyway), I will refine this number down using one of Dr James Gill’s own playlists.

As luck would have it we have been on the subject of cranial nerve exams recently – and I find that he has a playlist for this here:

Ten videos all incorporating Dr Gills calming voice (I have the feeling he must have cultured that over a long period of training).

How to Examine Cranial Nerve I – Olfactory Nerve – Clinical Skills – Dr Gill

A funky intro tune (which I could do without) and the constant accompaniment of air conditioning as background noise. These are all things we are used to after the blog item on Warwick Medical School.

However the voice of Dr Gill makes this seem unimportant. Lovely and quiet and calm. He seems consistent in this respect, I have only occasionally found a video of his in which this is not the case. This is one in which he seems quite young. However it was posted only two years ago, which probably shows how old I am.

As one of the commentators relates – we’re not here for the education but we’re getting one anyway.

How To Perform Optic Nerve Examination – Cranial Nerve II Examination OSCE – Dr Gill

Dr Gill is if anything even quieter here. Intra-video volume is a problem. If you’re playing my playlist regularly you may notice that you have one video at optimum volume for sleep and you can’t hear the next one. Worse still the next one kicks in like Trumpet Voluntary and blasts you from a nice relaxing dose.

I may soon be weeding the existing list to reflect only the highest quality, so some high-volume ones may get archived.

The biggest issue with these videos I find is because they have breaks in the track, YouTube introduces adverts into those spaces. Sometimes these are quite jarring adverts that are not toned to the content of the video or the time of day.

How to Find Your Blind Spot – Clinical Skills – 4K

This appears to be out of order. It refers to a cranial nerve exam yet to come which is in fact the video above in this playlist.

I love the comparison of the cranial nerve with a wiring point for the eye. It’s this kind of thing which must really help students to comprehend what is going on.

I also managed to map my own blind spot which is a piece of fun (I’m unlikely to be paid for doing this).

Cranial Nerves III, IV & VI Explained – What do they do and how to examine them – Dr James Gill

Entitled “Ultimate Guide to…” and just less than six and a half minutes. Quite astounding he could cram it in so effectively. Again with the air con but I think the vocal volume is better here. In all of these videos the best ASMR is definitely during the brief exam part of the video.

Cranial Nerve V: The Trigeminal Nerve – Your Ultimate Guide To Cranial Nerve Examination – Dr Gill

Again, the exam part of the video is best in ASMR terms.

Cranial Nerve VII – The Facial Nerve – Ultimate Guide to Cranial Nerve Examination

A very odd background noise at the start like a light metallic sound, almost as if the sound was vibrating through a duct or similar. This settles down as he gets into the motor neuron part of the video.

The video actually explains some of the behaviour we have seen in other cranial nerve exam videos.

Cranial Nerve VIII – The Vestibulocochlear Nerve – Ultimate Guide to Cranial Nerve Examination

Age related hearing loss strikes home, I am certainly starting to lose mine. Which presumably, eventually, will ultimately impact on any ASMR.

Dr Gill seems to repeat himself in this video, when discussing hearing loss due to old age, that can be distracting. I’ll keep this in the playlist but it might be one that is subject to future weeding.

Glossopharyngeal & Vagus Nerve Explained – Guide to Cranial Nerves IX and X – Dr Gill

So much quieter at the start and so much easier to relax to as a result.

Cranial Nerve XI & XII – Accessory and Hypoglossal Nerve – Ultimate Guide – Dr Gill

This again at the start lacks the air conditioning noise – ah peace.

Cranial Nerve Examination Demonstration – 4K – Clinical Skills OSCE – Dr. Gill

For me, the exam is always where Dr Gill is at his best ASMR wise so this is the pinnacle of this particular set.

The Dr Gill playlist is here:

I have no doubt we will be covering more of his videos in this blog

The overall playlist of videos covered so far in this blog is here:

I hope that you find them relaxing.

If you liked this blog item why not follow this blog:

Photo by S T on Unsplash

Sleeping With ASMR

“Unintentional ASMR” now seems to have become a “hot” category in that a large number of videos are being labelled with this term. It therefore becomes one of those categories that is easily abused. To the extent that I wonder whether some of them are in fact “unintentional” or are instead scripted by ASMR professionals keen to attract additional views.

On the face of it this video looks genuine:

Unintentional ASMR Cranial Nerves Exam

Not that I would be an expert in diagnosing videos that have been put together to confuse the unwary. This has been liberated from somewhere but the text gives no clue as to the identities of the participants. That said, there is limited possibility of tracking the originator down, less verifying that those featured are not simply actors or (whisper it) ASMR artists.

I notice that the comments reference “sandwich breath” which was featured in a previous blog item. However I have to confess I cannot (yet) clarify fightfightfightfight, or putapitapaper. “The bulldog” will be clarified below.

From the video we have Mr Evans and Dr Wu, for whatever credence we can place in this. The crest that appears at 0:08 indicates this could be a hospital or university. A Google Image search indicates that it could be the “Royal Prince Alfred Hospital”.

However a search of the website, does not reveal this video and an overly long search of YouTube using the “Royal Prince Alfred Hospital” title reveals a heck of a lot of videos, but not this one. This might be like the Hollie Berry experience which, lacking further evidence, I put down to older training videos which had subsequently been pulled from YouTube and yet preserved by the ASMR community (for which we need only be thankful).

So after that lengthy distraction/discussion, what is the video like in terms of ASMR? (Which is presumably why most people are reading this). Dr Wu is excellent, a properly attentive voice, measured, calm, not overly loud. I can’t think how many videos I have rejected due to shouty presentation. Mr Evans does not get a lot of opportunity to talk in this one so I can’t really judge how he stands up ASMR wise.

L M (for that is the name of the account where this is posted) seems to have a few of these videos available. At the time of writing ten. As usual they are variable in their ability to produce ASMR effects.

There is but one playlist this contains music videos and not any ASMR material as far as I can tell.

My favourite (of this set of videos) so far being the one above. You will notice that some of them are similar and feature the same people. My guess would be that they were originally destined to be training videos – probably a little while ago by the look of them.

Ten is quite a long blog post but without obvious methods available to filter them I will crave your indulgence. If you’re bored already scroll right to the end where you will find the relevant playlist.

Sadly, we see Dr Wu no further in any of these videos, so let’s focus on Mr Evans who appears in quite a few.

They are here:

Unintentional ASMR Clinical exam

Dr Lynn (I’m not sure about that spelling) and Mr Evans, the title on the video itself is “Clinical Examination Gastrointestinal”. The comments are quite fun – one thing they point out is that Dr Lynn starts scanning the room as if he is sizing the place up to purchase – what is he expecting to find on the ceiling? Perhaps he’s looking for spy cameras? Anyway this does not in any way affect the ASMR-i-ness of this video (now an established term). Dr Lynn has a great voice in this respect and this one is definitely going into the playlist.

Unintentional ASMR Respiratory exam

Dr Lynn (if I’m going to spell it wrong I might as well be consistent) and Mr Evans again. He introduces himself as if he’s never seen him before. So far so normal training video. As someone astutely points out, what is the point of Mr Evans putting on a top in any of these videos since one of the first actions is to get him out of it. However, he seems suitably stoical about it. In my view equally as good ASMR-wise as the previous one. In fact thus far we appear to be achieving a remarkable level of consistency. One more for the playlist then. After this Dr Lynn disappears (from the videos), but Mr Evans, that plucky participant that he is, keeps plugging on.

Unintentional ASMR Hand exam

Mr Evans again with Dr Richards this time. (I’m more comfortable with that spelling).

(The comments on this video are quite hysterical. Normally I would miss the comments, as I would be hearing the audio whilst laid in bed, so it is interesting to review this video whilst I am more awake.) I notice that one comment asks where the “lovely and floppy” comments are – referring to Hollie Berry. This community all seem to be watching the same material that I am – probably unsurprisingly.

Dr Richards again scans for spy cameras in the same way that Dr Lynn (excuse spelling) did previously. This must be established procedure, perhaps hospital rooms get rogue geckos on the walls?

That said Dr Richards has a great voice here. This is a definite playlist candidate.

Unintentional ASMR Back exam

Dr Richards and Mr Evans again. Now we find the origin of that “the bulldog” term mentioned earlier. This isn’t a term I like particularly as to my ears it does not sound respectful. One of the comments states “bull-dog is a colloquial term for examining assistant”. Goodness knows where they found that because I’ve been unable to track it down.

That said, I am trusting that this is not a dreadful term in some way because I’m intending to include this one in the playlist. It would not be the first time that a term in common parlance a decade or so ago is now regarded as basically rude. If anyone finds this to be the case let me know and I’ll delete it from the playlist.

Unintentional ASMR Cardiovascular Examination

Dr Richards and Mr Evans again. Once again with the lighthouse head examination of all the walls in the room – maybe an extreme form of arachnophobia.

One of the commentators states “I know she clearly wanted to show that she is looking around the room for surroundings that can give a hint of heart issues (maybe machines, medicine etc.)” This seems the most reasonable statement on the scanning behaviours we’ve seen but if it’s really to detect all those things it is a bit perfunctory.

Interesting that Dr Richards should choose “stop breathing” as a term rather than “hold your breath” – as if anyone could voluntarily choose to stop breathing. “Cosmic Parsec” comments that this is Dr Bethan Richards.

So ends the videos featuring Mr Evans. Now we are into a much more mixed bag ASMR-wise.

Unintentional ASMR Hands & Arms Exam

Mr O’Neill and Dr O’Carrigan (potentially misspelled both of those). This is such a gentle approach to examination. Very effective in terms of ASMR.

A number of commentators are interested in the use of the term “light monkey grip” which I’ve not heard before this. No doubt this will become another term reiterated in ASMR-related exchanges as we go along reading comments on other YouTube videos.

This one definitely belongs on the playlist.

Unintentional ASMR Leg and Walking exam

Mr O’Neill and Dr O’Carrigan again. Yet again Mr O’Neill spends hardly any time with much in the way of clothing on. As one of the commentators relates, he is suspiciously attractive.

One of the commentators states that this is Dr Daniel O’Neill – neurologist and Dr Brent O’Carrigan.

This is another for the playlist.

And now a complete change.

Unintentional ASMR Scleroderma Exam

Mr Parker and Dr Blaiswell (potentially misspelled). As a number of people comment the catches releasing on that briefcase at the start is far too loud for proper restfulness – in an ideal world I would edit that out. However this is a lovely peaceful exam. Very attentive and careful.

This is another for the playlist.

Unintentional ASMR Activator adjustment (Brasil)

Lots of positive comments with this one but it wasn’t very useful in my opinion. To be honest it is so muted (and there is so much background noise) it isn’t that great as an ASMR video – so I will not include it in the playlist.

The L M playlist is here:

The complete playlist of all videos covered in this blog so far is here:

I hope that you find it restful

If you like this blog item why not follow this blog.

Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

Sleeping with ASMR

For some reason Cranial Nerve Exam has generated a whole heap of videos and not surprisingly a number of these have people commenting that they are great for ASMR symptoms.

Helpfully BrainLine (for that is the YouTube channel where you find today’s video) provides its own playlist for Dr James Kelly (however they call him Dr Jim Kelly on the playlist) which is here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2Je5-cHxP3DqeLtIRlhCW4gxmgbsPyV

However I am in no sense stating that these are all good for ASMR.

In addition, this playlist is no less than twenty one videos long (and I think that is stretching your patience a tad much for one blog item). As luck would have it the first two are the ones that concern a medical examination and so I will limit this blog item to just those two.

Today’s video is this one:

Cranial Nerve Test

By the way I had not the least idea who Pat LaFontaine is but he turns out to be a famous former ice hockey player.

Hence (I am sure) why his name appears in the title of this video. To ice hockey fans I apologise for my ignorance. All I can say is that he has a marvellously calm voice. (He might be a resource for ASMR videos in the future – if anybody has found any please get in touch).

Dr James Kelly turns out to be something of a superstar himself, his YouTube playlist bio states that he was “the neurological consultant for the Chicago Bears”. All I can say is that he has a great soothing voice and is very much worth listening to if you need to be chilled before falling asleep.

By the way this video is the one that started the now famous phrase “sandwich breath” which appears to occur very often in the comments of a number of ASMR videos. No I have no idea why either but a number of ASMR fans seem to appreciate the fact that other fans are also aware of it.

The BrainLine channel is huge. There are so many videos I am not going to set about counting them so I will limit myself to medical exams and Dr James Kelly (so I’ll start with that playlist).

Of the twenty-one videos contained in this playlist by far the majority are interviews to gain the benefits of Dr Kelly’s expertise on brain health.

In terms of medical examinations there is only one further video:

Neuropsychology Test

This is equally as great as the first one in my opinion.

Both of these will now go into the playlist.

The Dr James Kelly playlist is here:

The playlist of all items featured so far in this blog is here:

I hope that you find them restful.

If you liked this blog item why not follow this blog

Photo by Kate Stone Matheson on Unsplash