• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2024

In this study, we aimed to determine the effect on cerebral blood vessels of various stimulus intensities using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). In particular, we wanted to monitor changes in blood flow and structural changes in the blood vessels in the common carotid artery (CCA) through low-intensity electrical stimulation that can cause non-perceptual sensory stimulation. Twenty-four healthy adults in their 20s participated in this study. Three stimulus intensities (below the sensory threshold, at the sensory threshold, and above the sensory threshold) were applied in random order. Changes in blood flow velocity according to the intensity of TENS stimulus were measured by placing the Doppler ultrasound transducer 1 cm below the CCA bifurcation, and the vascular structure was measured using B-mode imaging. C-mode Doppler and B-mode images were acquired before, during, and after the intervention for each stimulus, and changes in blood pressure were measured in each session. As a result, it was confirmed that peak systolic velocity (PSV) decreased significantly after the intervention in non-perceived sensory stimulation below the threshold, compared to other thresholds (p = .008). In particular, the PSV decreased by 3.04% on average compared to before stimulation (p = .011). However, there was no significant change in the CCA diameters before and after stimulation at all intensities. It was found that short-term, non-perceptual sensory stimulation was effective in reducing the blood flow rate without causing significant changes in either the blood vessel diameter or blood pressure. This change appears to be caused by a decrease in blood flow due to the effect of subtle vasodilation at non-perceptual sensory stimulation, and at stimulation intensity higher than that, the sympathetic nerves in the blood vessels are stimulated excessively and the blood vessels constrict. Therefore, this study can be rated as an important attempt to control blood flow through stimulation without such a psychological burden and sensory discomfort in the carotid area.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.133-150
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• 2003

Objective: Recently. many studies have showed the evidences of the effect of the Electro-acupuncture treatment through scientific. Methods : One of these methods is functional MRI. We performed electro-acupuncture on Zusanli(St36) and observed the change of brain activation using fMRI. Zusanli(St36) is located on the lateral side of the lower leg. 3 cun(寸) inferior to the Patella of the lower border. Theoretically and clinically. this point has been considered very important for gynecological disorders. spleen and stomach disorders. and psychological disorders. To see the effects of electro-acupuncture stimulation on Zusanli(St36). the experiment was carried out on twelve healthy volunteers. using the gradient echo sequence with the 3.0T whole-body fMRI system(ISOL). After the needle insertion on right Zusanli(St36). 2 Hz of electric stimulation was given for 30 seconds. repeated five times. with 30 seconds' intervals. The Image analysis including motion correction. talairach transformation, and smoothing was done with SPM99. Results ad conclusion : The electro-acupuncture stimulation on Zusanli(St36) activates Brodmann Area 6, 13, 2, 19, 21, 22, 39, 40, 38, 3which indicates the pathways of the electro-acupuncture stimulation on Zusanli(St36) and the possibility of the relationship of the electro-acupuncture stimulation on Zusanli(St36) with autonomic nervous system, internal organic system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.225-229
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• 1998

The purpose of the current study was comparative analysis of autonomic and electrocortical responses to passive and active touch of the tektites with different subjective emotional preference. Perspective goal of the project is development of a template for classification of tactile stimuli according to subjective comfort and associated physiological manifestations. The study was carried out on 36 female college students. Physiological signals were acquired by Grass and B10PAC 100 systems with AcqKnowledge III software. Frontal, parietal and occipital EEG (relative power spectrum /percents/ of EEG bands - delta, theta, slow and fast alpha, low and fast beta), and autonomic variables, namely heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), pulse transit time (PTT), respiration rate (RSP) and skin conductance parameters (SCL, amplitude, rise time and number of SCRs) were analyzed for rest baseline and stimulation conditions. Analysis of the overall pattern of reaction indicated that autonomic response to tactile stimulation was manifested in a form of moderate HR acceleration, RSP increase, RSA decrease (lowered vagal tone), decreased n and increased electrodermal activity (increased SCL, several SCRs) that reflects general sympathetic activation. Parietal EEG effects (on contra-lateral side to stimulated hand) were featured by short-term alpha-blocking, slightly reduced theta and significantly increased delta and enhanced fast beta activity with few variations across stimuli. The main finding of the study was that most and least preferred textures exhibited significant differences in autonomic (HR, RSP, PTT, SCR, and at less extent in RSA and SCL) and electrocortical responses (delta, slow and fast alpha, fast beta relative power). These differences were recorded both in passive and active stimulation modes, thus demonstrating reproducibility of distinction between most and least emotionally preferred tactile stimuli, suggesting influence of psychological factors, such as emotional property of stimulus, on physiological outcome. Nevertheless, development of sufficiently sensitive .and reliable template for classification of emotional responses to tactile stimulation based on physiological response pattern may require more extensive empirical database.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.199-202
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• 2007

Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a condition characterized by extreme pain after spinal surgery. Treatment of FBSS is aimed at improving function, using interdisciplinary approaches that encompass rehabilitation, psychological therapy, and pain management. If no response to conventional treatment is noted, a more interventional technique such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS) should be used. SCS is a well-established method of managing a variety of chronic neuropathic pain conditions. A 32 year-old male patient afflicted by FBSS that was irresponsive to both medication and several repeated nerve blocks showed improvement of symptoms after cervical and thoracic SCS with a single electrode. Centered on the midline of the spinal cord, single-electrode SCS can be an effective method for relieving pain and improving function.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1996 no.11
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• pp.243-246
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• 1996

This study was peformed to characterize the physiological signal prior to develop an algorithm which quantifies EEGs evoked by tactile stimulation. The experiment was devised with four experimental conditions, which were control and two levels of pressures in tactile sensation. Twenty subjects were used to obtain EEGs while applying tactile stimulation using two types of textiles, soft towel and sand paper, to the right hand of each subject. EEGs were acquired for 20 seconds, and each trial was repeated five times randomly at the different levels of stimulus intensities. The index, $S_{n}$, was obtained by calculating the ratio of energy distribution in the time-frequency plot for each scored psychological state of the subject. The results showed that dominant aspects of the EEG signals have their maximal frequencies concentrated at a lower ranges for the resting and pleasant state, while the spectral energies were distributed to higher frequency ranges when subjects experience an unpleasant emotion.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.121-124
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• 2001

Using ordors with the different concentration of essential oils, e studied the effect of a pleasant olfactory stimulation on physiological responses. we examined psychological response, mental task and changes in cardiac, immunity and EEG in responses to 150times solution (feel easily) and 500times solution (feel with difficulty) which of essential oil (called PCK) were diluted in propylene glycol, and neutral (water). The 150times solution that was felt pleasant produced significant differences (p<0.05) in relative power change of beta activity in the left frontal region (Fp1, F3, F7) of the brain, and heart rate (HR) deceleration after mental task. these results are consistent with substantial research that has documented cardiac and EEG responses to pleasant stimuli. What is more, 150times solution increased the concentration of s-IgA know as an index of immunity.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2017

Applied Kinesiology (AK) is an evaluation system on the functional balance and integration of the body. Functional aspects of the triad of health are evaluated through muscle testing to see if the balance and integration is in an optimal status or is influenced by a given environmental stimulation. Triad of health refers to the structural, chemical, and psychological aspects of the body. Muscle testing in AK is a functional neurological assessment of muscular response to a given environmental stimulation in a given individual. Meridian system and stomatognathic system as in TMJ balancing medicine serve as one of the theoretical basis of AK. This article reviews core concepts of AK, discusses yin-yang balance medicine perspectives and clinical applications of it.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
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• 1997.11a
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• pp.91-94
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• 1997

Objective of this stuey was to find the corrdlation between emotiona changes and the parameters of HRV spectrum evoked by tactile stimualtion. Twenty-one subjects were useds and five different types of materials, dry cottn, wet cotton, paper, sandpaper, and vinyl were applied to the left hand of each subject as a tactile stimulation. The results showed that HF/LF(ratio of high to low frequency amplitude calculated from power spectrum of HRV) decreased as the subject experienced the unpleasant emotion caused by wet cotton and sandpaper. On the othr hand, when the subject experienced the comfort, HF/LF increased. It was concluded that the proprsed methods can be applied to evaluate the characteristic changes in the autonomic nervous system which regulates the human emotion in the psychological aspects.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.151-158
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• 2012

Objectives : We hypothesized that reinforcing-reducing manipulations produce different effects by quantity of stimulation, and examined whether the difference is statistically significant or not. Methods : The study was conducted to the students of College of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University. We needled into $ST_{36}$ and applied 6 kinds of basic reinforcing-reducing manipulations in Huang di nei jing by randomized sequence. And we had the students to fill up the questionnaire in form of visual analog scale(VAS). We examined whether significant differences in VAS existed between reinforcing-reducing manipulations(by t-test). And we examined whether significant differences in VDRRT(VAS difference between reinforcing-reducing technique) values existed along the gender, body mass index(BMI), age(by t-test), and psychological sensitivity(by ANOVA). Results : 1. The total stimulation quantity from reducing technique was significantly higher than that from reinforcing technique. Individually VAS values of reducing techniques were significantly higher in rotation, slow-rapid, lift-thrust, respiration and open-close manipulation. 2. The highest stimulation quantity was from rotation manipulation. And the highest VDRRT value was from slow-rapid manipulation. 3. When VDRRT values were analyzed by gender, age, BMI, and psychological sensitivity, VDRRT was significantly different by BMI in rotation manipulation, and by psychological sensitivity in rotation, lift-thrust, and slow-rapid manipulation. Conclusions : We could verify that reinforcing-reducing techniques induce different therapeutic effects by different quantities of stimulations. It suggests that reinforcing-reducing techniques could be applied universally, regardless of gender or age. Further studies are needed to consider control group, or patient groups in characteristic conditions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7629-7634
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• 2014

Background: Cigarette smokers have their own motivation and justification to smoke. For example, smoking reduces their stress or enhances their pleasure. This study aimed to identify the (a) prevalence of cigarette smokers among undergraduates in Malaysia, (b) gender differences in nicotine dependence among current smokers, (c) differences in psychological problems (depression, anxiety and stress) based on the status of smoking cigarettes (current, former and non-smokers) and (d) extent to which precipitating factors (tension reduction, addiction, automatism, handling, social interaction, pleasure, and stimulation) predict the smoking behavior among current smokers. Materials and Methods: In this study 780 undergraduate students participated from a private university in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor state in Malaysia. The Depression, Stress and Anxiety Scale, Modified Reason for Smoking Scale and Fagerstrom Nicotine Dependence Test were used to measure psychological problems, predictors of smoking behavior and nicotine dependency among current smokers. Results: The results showed that 14.7%(n=106) of the students were smokers. Current smokers exhibited more psychological problems (depression, anxiety and stress) compared to former and non-smokers. Addiction, tension reduction, pleasure and automatism were predictors of smoking behavior among the current smoking students. Step wise regression analysis showed that smoking behavior was highly predicted by nicotine dependency or addiction. Smoking students were motivated to smoke cigarettes as they believed that it reduced their tension and enhance pleasure. Conclusions: Hence, there is a need for health promotion and anti-tobacco prevention as cigarette smokers experience more psychological problems. Nicotine dependency or addition was one of the major causes for smoking behavior among the student population in Malaysia.