Relaxation and meditation techniques are generally characterized by focusing attention, which is associated with an increase of frontal EEG Theta. Some studies on music perception suggest an activation of Frontal Midline Theta during emotionally positive attribution, others display a lateralization of electrocortical processes in the attribution of music induced emotion of different valence. The present study examined the effects of vibroacoustic stimulation using a Body Monochord and the conventional relaxation music from an audio CD on the spontaneous EEG of patients suffering from psychosomatic disorders (N = 60). Each treatment took about 20 min and was presented to the patients in random order. Subjective experience was recorded via self-rating scale. EEG power spectra of the Theta, Alpha-1 and Alpha-2 bands were analysed and compard between the two treatment conditions. There was no lateralization of electrocortical activity in terms of the emotional experience of the musical pieces. A reduction in Alpha-2 power occurred during both treatments. An emotionally positive attribution of the experience of the vibroacoustically induced relaxation state is characterized by a more pronounced release of control. In the context of focused attention this is interpreted as flow experience. The spontaneous EEG showed an increase in Theta power, particularly in the frontal medial and central medial area, and a greater reduction in Alpha-2 power. The intensity of positive emotional feelings during the CD music showed no significant effect on the increase in Theta power.
Vibroacoustic stimulation by a Body Monochord can induce relaxation states of various emotional valence. The skin conductance level (SCL) of the tonic electrodermal activity is an indicator of sympathetic arousal of the autonomic nervous system and thus an indicator of the relaxation response. Salivary cortisol is considered to be a stress indicator of the HPA-axis.The effects of the treatment with a Body Monochord and listening to relaxation music (randomized chronological presentation) on SCL and salivary cortisol in relation to the emotional valence of the experience were examined in patients with psychosomatic disorders (N = 42). Salivary cortisol samples were collected immediately before and after the expositions. Subjective experience was measured via self-rating scales.Overall, both the exposure to the Body Monochord as well as the exposure to the relaxation music induced an improvement of patients’ mood and caused a highly significant reduction of SCL. A more emotionally positive experience of relaxation correlated with a slightly stronger reduction of the SCL. Both treatment conditions caused a slight increase in salivary cortisol, which was significant after exposure to the first treatment. The increase of salivary cortisol during a relaxation state is contrary to previous findings. It is possible that the relaxation state was experienced as an emotional challenge, due to inner images and uncommon sensations that might have occurred.
Zusammenfassung. Musiktherapeutischer Literatur zufolge soll durch die Rezeption des Klanges von Monochord bzw. Ganzkörper-Monochord das Erleben veränderter Wachbewusstseinszustände (VWB) induziert werden können. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde untersucht, ob die EEG-Aktivität und das subjektive Erleben während einer Behandlung mit einer Klangliege sich von einem mittels Progressiver Muskelrelaxation induzierten Entspannungszustand unterscheiden. Das Erleben eines VWBs wurde von 31 Probanden während beider Bedingungen quantitativ erfasst. Zusätzlich wurde das subjektive Erleben während der Klangexposition qualitativ erhoben. Während beiden Bedingungen wurde EEG abgeleitet, FFT-anaysiert und die EEG-Leistungsspektren der Alpha- und Theta-Power zwischen den Bedingungen verglichen. Es zeigte sich, dass sich während der Klangexposition bei den meisten Probanden ein bedeutend intensiveres Erleben eines VWBs einstellte. Bei der Subgruppe der Probanden mit intensiv erlebtem VWB konnte vor allem im parietalen Bereich des Gehirns ein Anstieg der EEG-Theta-Aktivität festgestellt werden. Die EEG-Alpha-Aktivität differenzierte nicht zwischen den Bedingungen.
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