Relaxation Methods and their effects: investigating objective and subjective measurements
Authors
Worsøe, Louise ; Hvelplund, Herle Haahr
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2016
Abstract
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan forskellige afslapningsmetoder påvirker objektive fysiologiske signaler og den subjektive oplevelse. I samarbejde med Bang & Olufsen blev en stol med et biofeedback-system evalueret. Tyve deltagere gennemførte et to og en halv times studie, der sammenlignede fem tilstande: guidet vejrtrækningsmeditation, biofeedback med en lydflade synkroniseret med vejrtrækningen, selvvalgt afslappende musik, vibroakustisk musik med stolens vibrationer samt en kontrol uden musik. De objektive målinger omfattede galvanisk hudrespons (GSR), hjertefrekvens (HR), EEG-indeks for engagement og arbejdsbelastning samt en hukommelsesopgave; de subjektive målinger indfangede oplevet afslapning og præferencer. Resultaterne viser, at et fald i GSR kan afspejle kroppens afslapning over tid, men at det absolutte GSR-niveau er følsomt over for individuelle præferencer. HR adskilte mellem tilstande, men spejlede ikke deltagernes præferencer. EEG-arbejdsbelastning gav et mål for mental afspænding, men var ligeledes ikke i overensstemmelse med præferencer. Samlet viser studiet, at kombinationen af fysiologiske og selvrapporterede data kan karakterisere afslapningsreaktioner på tværs af metoder, samtidig med at det tydeliggør forskelle mellem hvad der føles afslappende, og hvad kroppen signalerer. Hukommelsesmålingen blev også indsamlet, men tilhørende resultater er ikke beskrevet her.
This thesis investigates how different relaxation methods influence objective physiological signals and the subjective experience. In collaboration with Bang & Olufsen, a chair equipped with a biofeedback system was evaluated. Twenty participants took part in a two-and-a-half-hour study comparing five conditions: a guided breathing meditation, biofeedback with a breathing-synchronized soundscape, self-chosen relaxing music, vibroacoustic music with chair vibrations, and a no-music control. Objective measures included galvanic skin response (GSR), heart rate (HR), EEG indexes of engagement and workload, and a memory task; subjective measures captured perceived relaxation and preferences. Results indicate that a decline in GSR can track bodily relaxation over time, although absolute GSR levels are sensitive to individual preferences. HR differentiated between conditions but did not mirror participants’ preferences. EEG workload provided an index of cognitive unwinding during relaxation, yet likewise did not align with preferences. Overall, the study shows that combining physiological and self-report data can characterize relaxation responses across methods while highlighting discrepancies between what feels relaxing and what the body signals. A memory measure was also collected, but corresponding results are not detailed here.
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