Heart Rate Changes in the Horse to Human Contact

Lynch, James J.; Fregin, G. F.; Mackie, James B.; Monroe, Russell R.

doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.1974.tb00575.x

Cited by 49 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…This is similar to the response of several infrahuman species to human touch (3,6), but differs from the cardiac acceleration shown by coronary care patients when they are touched by nursing staff (8,9). These differences in outcome between the two populations of human subjects may be due to differences in drugs and/or states of consciousness, or they may be related to the psychological significance of having one's pulse taken by a nurse in a coronary care unit.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Heart Rate Response to Touch1

1980

Psychosomatic Medicine

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The effect of tactile stimulation on heart rate (HR) in humans was investigated under three conditions: 1) Experimenter outside of room in which subject is sitting; 2) experimenter in the room with the subject; 3) experimenter in the room while touching the subject's right wrist. Nonsignificant increases in HR were observed when the experimenter entered the room (X = 0.64 beats per minute (bpm)). Conversely, large decreases occurred when the experimenter placed his hand on the subject's wrist (X = 9.16 bpm, p is less than 0.05). To determine if tactile stimulation alone accounts for these differences three comparisons were made in a second experiment: 1) Experimenter out of test room, subject touches own wrist; 2) experimenter in room standing near subject; 3) experimenter touching subject's wrist. Subjects showed slightly elevated HR during the self-touch condition (X = 1.26 bpm, not significant). Although no change was noted with the experimenter standing beside the subject, there were decreases, as in Experiment I, when the experimenter touched the subject's wrist (X = 1.75 bpm, p is less than 0.05). These results suggest that the observed decreases in HR were contingent upon another person's touch. While self-tactile stimulation produced a slight increase in HR, tactile stimulation by another caused bradycardia.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Heart Rate Response to Touch1

1980

Psychosomatic Medicine

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“…Petting an owned horse elicited a slowing of heart rate, whereas entering and exiting elicited a transient but marked increase in heart rate (Lynch et al, 1974). Dogs too experience a significant decrease in heart rate and blood pressure immediately after a person enters its room or when petted (Lynch & McCarthy, 1969).…”

Section: Focus Attentionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Companion Animals and Their Companions: Sharing a Strategy for Survival

Beck

1999

Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society

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It is well documented that people denied good human contact and interaction do not thrive well. One way people can be protected from the ravages of loneliness is animal companionship. Early laboratory observations of people with animals encouraged a period of research to identify, document, and assess the beneficial health implications of our relationship with companion animals. All indications are that companion animals play the role of a family member, often a member with the most desired attributes. Ordinary interactions with animals can reduce blood pressure and alter survival after a heart attack. Pets, for some, afford increased opportunities to meet people, whereas for others, pets permit them to be alone without being lonely. The relationship between people and companion animals explains why people prefer alternatives to animal use for medical research.

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“…he behavioral effects of interactions between humans and horses has been a topic of investigation in recent years (Lynch et al 1974;Hama, Yogo and Matsuyama 1996;Weeks and Beck 1996;Chamove 1997, 1998;Hutson and Haskell 1997). These investigations have monitored the effects on horse heart rate and behavior of (a) human physical contact (Lynch et al 1974;Hama, Yogo and Matsuyama 1996;Crawley and Chamove 1997), (b) human proximity (Crawley and Chamove 1998), and (c) human attitudes (Driscoll, 1992;Hama et al 1996;Weeks and Beck 1996).…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%