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Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Field, T; Ironson, G; Scafidi, F; Nawrocki, T; Goncalves, A; Burman, I; Pickens, J; Fox, N; Schanberg, S; Kuhn, C
Published in: Int J Neurosci
September 1996

Twenty-six adults were given a chair massage and 24 control group adults were asked to relax in the massage chair for 15 minutes, two times per week for five weeks. On the first and last days of the study they were monitored for EEG, before, during and after the sessions. In addition, before and after the sessions they performed math computations, they completed POMS Depression and State Anxiety Scales and they provided a saliva sample for cortisol. At the beginning of the sessions they completed Life Events, Job Stress and Chronic POMS Depression Scales. Group by repeated measures and post hoc analyses revealed the following: 1) frontal delta power increased for both groups, suggesting relaxation; 2) the massage group showed decreased frontal alpha and beta power (suggesting enhanced alertness); while the control group showed increased alpha and beta power; 3) the massage group showed increased speed and accuracy on math computations while the control group did not change; 4) anxiety levels were lower following the massage but not the control sessions, although mood state was less depressed following both the massage and control sessions; 5) salivary cortisol levels were lower following the massage but not the control sessions but only on the first day; and 6) at the end of the 5 week period depression scores were lower for both groups but job stress score were lower only for the massage group.

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Published In

Int J Neurosci

DOI

ISSN

0020-7454

Publication Date

September 1996

Volume

86

Issue

3-4

Start / End Page

197 / 205

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Mathematics
  • Massage
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Electroencephalography
  • Cognition
  • Arousal
  • Anxiety
 

Citation

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Field, T., Ironson, G., Scafidi, F., Nawrocki, T., Goncalves, A., Burman, I., … Kuhn, C. (1996). Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations. Int J Neurosci, 86(3–4), 197–205. https://doi.org/10.3109/00207459608986710
Field, T., G. Ironson, F. Scafidi, T. Nawrocki, A. Goncalves, I. Burman, J. Pickens, N. Fox, S. Schanberg, and C. Kuhn. “Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations.Int J Neurosci 86, no. 3–4 (September 1996): 197–205. https://doi.org/10.3109/00207459608986710.
Field T, Ironson G, Scafidi F, Nawrocki T, Goncalves A, Burman I, et al. Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations. Int J Neurosci. 1996 Sep;86(3–4):197–205.
Field, T., et al. “Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations.Int J Neurosci, vol. 86, no. 3–4, Sept. 1996, pp. 197–205. Pubmed, doi:10.3109/00207459608986710.
Field T, Ironson G, Scafidi F, Nawrocki T, Goncalves A, Burman I, Pickens J, Fox N, Schanberg S, Kuhn C. Massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances EEG pattern of alertness and math computations. Int J Neurosci. 1996 Sep;86(3–4):197–205.
Journal cover image

Published In

Int J Neurosci

DOI

ISSN

0020-7454

Publication Date

September 1996

Volume

86

Issue

3-4

Start / End Page

197 / 205

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Mathematics
  • Massage
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Electroencephalography
  • Cognition
  • Arousal
  • Anxiety