Relationship Between Changes in EMG and Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia in a Study of Relaxation Therapy for Asthma

Authors: Lehrer P.M.1; Hochron S.M.2; Mayne T.3; Isenberg S.3; Lasoski A.M.3; Carlson V.3; Gilchrist J.4; Porges S.5

Source: Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, Volume 22, Number 3, September 1997 , pp. 183-191(9)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

This paper reports the relationships among changes in cardiovagal activity, surface EMG, and measures of pulmonary function in a study of relaxation therapy for asthma. Changes in FEV1/FVC were negatively correlated with those in cardiac interbeat interval, consistent with the hypothesis that relaxation-induced changes in airway function are mediated autonomically, with increased vagal tone and/or decreased sympathetic arousal producing bronchoconstriction. Contrary to Kotses's theory of a vagal-trigeminal reflex as mediator for relaxation-induced improvement in asthma, decreases in pulmonary function occurred during relaxation sessions, accompanied by increases in cardiovagal activity, and within-session changes in frontal EMG in the first session of training were positively associated with changes in a measure of pulmonary function (FEV1/FVC). However, consistent with this hypothesis, first-session frontalis EMG changes were positively associated with changes in respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and last-session changes in cardiac interbeat interval were positively associated with changes in FEV1/FVC. The results suggest that the immediate effects of generalized relaxation instruction can be associated with a parasympathetic rebound, which, in turn, may induce countertherapeutic changes in asthma. However, the effects of specific facial muscle relaxation remain uncelar.

Keywords: asthma; respiratory sinus arrhythmia; relaxation; vagal tone

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: UMDNJ—Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-5635. Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-5635 2: UMDNJ—Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-5635 3: Rutgers—The State University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903 4: St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Dayton, Ohio 45408 5: University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 20814

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