• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2022

Background: The pathophysiology of fibromyalgia (FM) involves many mechanisms including central nervous system sensitization theory, autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction, and recently small fiber neuropathy. While the small fiber neuropathy itself can cause ANS dysfunction and neuropathic pain (NP), it is still unknown whether ANS problems have an association with severity of disease and NP in patients with FM. The aim of this study was to evaluate ANS dysfunction in FM patients and to explore possible associations of ANS dysfunction with disease severity and NP. Methods: Twenty-nine FM patients and 20 healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants were tested using sympathetic skin responses (SSR) and R-R interval variation analyses for sympathetic and parasympathetic ANS dysfunction, respectively. Disease severity and somatic symptoms of patients with FM were evaluated using the ACR-2010 scales and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and NP symptoms were evaluated using the Pain Detect Questionnaire and Douleur Neuropathique questionnaire. Results: FM patients were found to have ANS dysfunction characterized by increased sympathetic response and decreased parasympathetic response. SSR amplitudes were found to be correlated with a more severe disease. Although nonsignificant, NP severity tended to be associated with a decrease in sympathetic and parasympathetic activities. Conclusions: ANS dysfunction may play a role in the pathophysiology of FM. The trend of decreased ANS functions in FM patients exhibiting NP contradicts the notion that FM is a sympathetically maintained NP and may be explained with small fiber involvement.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.127-140
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• 2011

Objectives: Acupuncture has been shown to relieve pain and modulate biological function by stimulating the organ-specific meridians and enhances parasympathetic activity and suppresses sympathetic activity. The aim of this review is to summarize and understand the effects of acupuncture on autonomic nervous system. Methods: We reviewed a total of 29 studies published from 2000 to 2010 searched by PueMed and various domestic oriental medicine journals to obtain acupuncture studies related with ANS. Each article was classified by ANS measurement index and reviewed for study objectives, outcomes, acupuncture points, experimental and control interventions. Results: In the study of acupuncture about EEG, HRV, SCR, the experiment results are not the same by acupoints. Although same acupoint the results differ by subject's condition. But the study showed some clear tendency. In brief, in normal states acupuncture enhanced either vagal or sympathetic tone depending on the stimulated acupuncture point sites. On the other hand, most of studies demonstrated that acupuncture restored the autonomic dysfunctions in various kinds of tired or stressful states. Conclusions: We reviewed studies that contributed to an understanding of the effects and mechanisms of acupuncture on autonomic nervous system. Although the relationship between acupuncture and ANS response is still uncertain, acupuncture could be a excellent treatment method for modulating autonomic dysfunction.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.207-216
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the fully immersive virtual reality (FIVR) program changes in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) by age according to heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: A total of 44 subjects were classified into group 1(aged 20-30), group 2(aged 40-60), and group 3(aged 70 and above). The study analyzed the HRV using a pulse wave analyzer and compared the ANS changes before and after applying the FIVR of the group. The LF, HF, RMSSD, and SDNN were measured. Fifteen minutes of virtual reality applications were applied to all subjects, and 1 min of rest was given in the middle of the session. A was used for anteroposterior comparisons of the ANS. Results: The HF, LF, RMSSD, and SDNN values were not statistically significant in all groups, but they all increased. The RMSSD value was statistically significant because it increased in group 3 (p<0.05). Those of the other two groups were not statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: An FIVR program does not have a negative effect on the ANS response.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.307-313
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• 1994

Cutaneous stimulation has had a long history as a method of pain control. While there is general agreement that modern techniques such as electrical stimulation and massage often provide relief from acute pain and may in some cases significantly affect chronic pain, the mechanism by which these techniques affect pain remain unclear. Significant attention has been focused on the effects of stimulation on the autonomic nervous system(ANS) along with the increasing evidence of important ANS modulation of nociceptive activity throughout the pain pathway. However, inconsistent results on the presence and direction of ANS changes from cutaneous stimulation characterize the recent literature. The present study investigated a non-electrical cutaneous stimulation device, the Dermapoints massage roller, as well as an active placebo massage. The results indicate that the Dermapoints massage roller has both general effects associated with simple skin stimulation (such as increased skin temperature), as well as specific effects from increased stimulation by the tooth design of the roller. These specific effects include decreased muscle tension (at least for some muscle sites) and increased sympathetic activation. The results are consistent with a model of activation of Pacinian receptors as a possible mechanism for the antinociceptive properties of cutaneous stimulation.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.25-36
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• 2007

Objectives : Acupuncture restores the flow of vital energy in the body by stimulating the organ-specific meridians and enhances cardiac vagal activity and suppresses sympathetic activity. The purpose of this review is to summarize and evaluate the acupuncture studies on autonomic nervous system (ANS). Methods : We conducted a PubMed search to obtain a fair sample of acupuncture studies related ANS published in English in 2007. Each article was reviewed for study objectives and outcomes, as well as acupuncture points, experimental and control interventions. Results : We reviewed a total of 15 studies published from 1997 to 2007. In normal states, acupuncture enhanced either vagal or sympathetic tone depending on the stimulated acupuncture point sites. On the other hand, most of studies demonstrated that acupuncture restored the autonomic dysfunctions in various kinds of stressful states. Conclusions : We reviewed studies that contributed to an understanding of the autonomic mechanisms of acupuncture with the hope that this review will be of benefit to the future studies. Although the relationship between acupuncture and ANS response is still uncertain, acupuncture would be a noteworthy modality for modulating autonomic dysfunction.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.503-512
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• 2011

Recently in HCI research, emotion recognition is one of the core processes to implement emotional intelligence. There are many studies using bio signals in order to recognize human emotions, but it has been done merely for the basic emotions and very few exists for the other emotions. The purpose of present study is to confirm the difference of autonomic nervous system (ANS) response in three emotions (boredom, pain, and surprise). There were totally 217 of participants (male 96, female 121), we presented audio-visual stimulus to induce boredom and surprise, and pressure by using the sphygmomanometer for pain. During presented emotional stimuli, we measured electrodermal activity (EDA), skin temperature (SKT), electrocardiac activity (ECG) and photoplethysmography (PPG), besides; we required them to classify their present emotion and its intensity according to the emotion assessment scale. As the results of emotional stimulus evaluation, emotional stimulus which we used was shown to mean 92.5% of relevance and 5.43 of efficiency; this inferred that each emotional stimulus caused its own emotion quite effectively. When we analyzed the results of the ANS response which had been measured, we ascertained the significant difference between the baseline and emotional state on skin conductance response, SKT, heart rate, low frequency and blood volume pulse amplitude. In addition, the ANS response caused by each emotion had significant differences among the emotions. These results can probably be able to use to extend the emotion theory and develop the algorithm in recognition of three kinds of emotions (boredom, surprise, and pain) by response measurement indicators and be used to make applications for differentiating various human emotions in computer system.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2001

This study was conducted to identify the structure of the sensibility and autonomic nervous responses to odor by ages. 72 participants, 24 each in their teens, twenties, and thirties were given odor stimuli, cederwood, grapefruit, teebaum, peppermint, rose. During the presentation of stimuli, participant were measured blood flow, skin temperature, skin conductance, and ECG and subjective emotion to each odor were evaluated, Five factors, aesthetic, intensity, naturality, uniqueness, and romantism were identified but there were no differences by ages. Emotional factors that predict the preference to certain odors turned out partly different by ages. However, odors that made participants feel sick created more autonomic nervous response than odors that made them feel good.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.770-775
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• 2008

Autonomic nervous system of the anesthetized patients can be influenced by the many kinds of stimulations such as intubation, surgical incision and so on. The changes of the heart rates and blood pressures are surrogates of responses of the autonomic system to the external stimulations. Recently, the power spectral analysis of the heart rate variability (HRV) made it easy to know the fractions and changes of sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic systems. In this study, the changes of pulse transit time, one of the response of vessels to stimulations, was investigated in relation to the HRV. Ten patients were examined and average age is 22.5 $\pm$ 11.04, average weight is 63 $\pm$ 14.4 kg. The patients were anesthetized only by sevoflurane inhalation. Pulse transit time is determined by calculating the difference of the time between the R peak of ECG and the characteristic point of the plethysmography. Power spectral density (PSD) of the HRV was achieved in the frequency of 0.04-0.15 (LF) and 0.15-0.4 (HF). Compared to preanesthetic period the values of LF and LF/HF ratio of HRV were decreased (p<0.05). HF and PTT was increased in anesthetic state with sevoflurane. Otherwise, after intubation, the HF was decreased and LF, LF/HF ratio and PTT were increased. PSD of the HRV is well-known for the index of the autonomic nervous activity. Not only HRV but PTT analysis also is a useful index reflecting the autonomic responses to various stimulations. And this analysis is useful in bed side monitoring because the calculating method is simple and it takes shorter processing time compared to the HRV analysis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.216-221
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• 1999

A mental task combined with noise background is an effective model of laboratory stress for study of psychophysiology of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The intensity of the background noise significantly affects both a subjective evaluation of experienced stress level during test and the physiological responses associated with mental load in noisy environments. Providing tests of similar difficulties we manipulated the background noise intensity as a main factor influencing a psychophysiological outcome and the analyzed reactivity along withe the noise intensity dimension. The goal of this study was to identify the patterns of ANS responses and the relevant subjective stress scores during performance of word recognition tasks on the background of white noise (WN) of the different intensities (55, 70 and 85 dB). Subjects were 27 college students (19-24 years old). BIOPAC, Grass Neurodata System and AcqKnowlwdge 3.5 software were used to record ECG, PPG, SCL, skin temperature, and respiration. Experimental manipulations were effective in producing subjective and physiological responses usually associated with stress. The results suggested that the following potential autonomic mechanisms might be involved in the mediation of the observed physiological responses: A sympathetic activation with parasympathetic withdrawal during mild 55 and 70dB noise (featured by similar profiles) and simultaneous activation of sympathetic and parasympathetic systems during intense 85dB WN. The parasympathetic activation in this case might be a compensatory effect directed to prevent sympathetic domination and to maintain optimal arousal state for the successful performance on mental stress task. It should be mentioned that obtained results partially support Gellhorn's (1960; 1970) "tuning phenomenon" as a possible mechanism underlying stress response.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 2018

Stress involves changes in behavior, autonomic function and the secretion of hormones. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) contributes to physiological adaptive process in short durations. In particular, heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is commonly used as a quantitative marker depicting the ANS activity related to mental stress. The aim of this study is to investigate correlations between psychological responses to stress and HRV indices induced by the cognitive stressor. Thirty-three participants rated their mental and physical symptoms occurred during the past two weeks on Stress Response Inventory (SRI), which is composed of seven stress factors that may influence the status of mental stress levels. Then, they underwent the psychophysiological procedures, which are collected electrocardiogram (ECG) signals during a cognitive stress task. HRV indices, the standard deviation of R-R interval (SDNN), root mean square of successive R-R interval difference (RMSSD) and low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) ratio were extracted from ECG signals. Physiological responses were calculated stress responses by subtracting mean of the baseline from the mean of recovery. Stress factors such as tension, aggression, depression, fatigue, and frustration were positively correlated to HRV indices. In particular, aggression had significant positive correlations to SDNN, RMSSD and LF/HF ratio. Increased aggressive responses to stress correlated with the increases of all HRV indices. This means the increased autonomic coactivation. Additionally, tension, depression, fatigue, and frustration were positively associated with RMSSD reflecting increases in parasympathetic activation. The autonomic coactivation may represent an integrated response to specific cognitive reactions such as the orienting response.