Biofeedback, relaxation training, and music: homeostasis for coping with stress

• Published in: Biofeedback and Self-Regulation 1984-06, Vol.9 (2), p.169-179
• Main Author: REYNOLDS, S. B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Arousal; Autogenic Training; Biofeedback, Psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Electromyography; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Muscle Contraction; Muscle Relaxation; Music; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Relaxation. Biofeedback. Hypnosis. Selfregulation. Meditation; Stress, Psychological - complications; Transfer (Psychology); Treatments
• ISSN: 0363-3586; 1573-3270
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00998832

This study compared the efficacy of five relaxation training procedures, four of which employed EMG auditory feedback: biofeedback only (BF), autogenic training phrases (ATP), music (MU), autogenic training phrases and music (ATP & MU), and a control group, in developing self-regulation of a "cultivated low arousal state" as a countermeasure to tensed muscular reaction to stressful imagery. Twenty subjects established a pre- and posttraining frontalis region EMG biofeedback baseline measurement. Sixteen subjects were assigned at random to the 25-minute taped relaxation training procedure. After eight training sessions (4 weeks), MU and ATP & MU groups achieved highly significant differences when compared with the control group. The ATP & MU group attained the lowest postbaseline arousal level measured by the EMG. EMG as a physiological measure for transfer of training functioned well in detecting the psychophysiological affect of stressful imagery.