Psychophysiological effect of first-time autogenic training on healthy beginners

In order to examine the psychophysiological effect of first-time Autogenic training (AT), thirty-seven healthy subjects (Males 32, Females 5) who had never experienced AT practiced it with a taperecorder. The effect of this training was evaluated from the standpoint of objective skin temperature by using a thermography, subjective anxiety (STAI) and several other parameters including relaxed, heavy, warm sensations. The results are summarized as follows. 1. As a result of AT, skin temperature of the hands increased more than 1°C, which was significant, and both state and trait anxieties decreased significantly. There was no correlation between skin temperature and state/trait anxiety before AT. 2. According to the self-rating questionnaire, although 22 subjects felt tense before AT, 20 subjects relaxed themselves after practicing it. A warm sensation (30 subjects) was likely to be felt more compared to a heavy sensation (27 subjects). Passive concentration (20 subjects) was also likely to be noticed more compared to an active one (8 subjects) or unknown (9 subjects). 3. Those who felt a heavy sensation had a lower rate of increase of skin temperature than those without during AT. 4. There was a correlation between the decrement of state anxiety and relaxation before AT. Those who perceived a heavy or warm sensation had a higher increment of skin temperature than non perceived subjects during AT.