Abstracts, Vol.18, No.1, 2000 English
International Society of Life Information Science (ISLIS)

Journal of International Society of
Life Information Science


Vol.18, No.1, March 2000
ISSN 1341-9226

ABSTRACTS & KEYWORDS



[Original Research Paper]

peer-reviewed



Is the Cerebral Cortex in a Generalized Inhibitory State during Qigong Meditation?

Wenbin ZHANG and Weilin YU

Qigong Institute of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Shanghai, China)

(Received on May 11, 1999, Final Revised and Accepted on January 31, 2000)

Abstract:
In the present work it was found that amplitude recovery ratios of long latency auditory evoked potentials to paired clicks with 1, 2 or 3 sec intervals within pairs could rise during qigong meditation, indicating that there were some facilitative effects on the cortex. Based on these results and those of the authors' previous studies, it is suggested that qigong meditation may be associated with both inhibitory and facilitative effects on the cerebral cortex. But it is uncertain whether this is anomalous and specific for qigong meditation or merely an ordinary physiological phenomenon. Further study to clarify this point is necessary.
Keywords:
qigong meditation, long latency auditory evoked cortical potential components, recovery ratio, inhibition, facilitation


Materials' Emission Induced by Light and Its Effect on Bioimpedance

Takashi AOKI1 and Wakako AOKI2

1Chubu University (Aichi, Japan)
2Nanzan University (Aichi, Japan)

(Received on January 8, 1998, Final Revised and Accepted on December 27, 1999)

Abstract:
The authors developed what they call a wave field generator of a new type. The generator uses the authors' hypothesis whereby a material has, around it, its own wave field, which can be pushed out in the direction of a light beam passing through the field. The authors consider that when Oriental medicines and crystals, etc. which improve a person's physical condition, relieve pain and cure diseases and make such fields are placed near the passing light beam, directional wave fields having cure effects are obtainable. These fields (named MEIL) were examined in terms of influences on electrical impedances of the human body. Skin conductivities related to meridian autonomous nervous excitements were measured by a neurometer before and after MEIL-irradiations. With MEIL-irradiations, the skin conductivities showed statistically significant changes (p<0.01) as compared with those by a placebo-MEIL. The MEIL could adjust anomalous excitement levels of the autonomous nerves of the meridians.
Keywords:
Oriental medicine, acupuncture, neurometry, qigong, physiotherapeutics, bio-impedance, autonomous nerve


[Proceeding]

Without Peer Review




Image Recall in Hypnotic State
Joint Symposium "Qigong and Hypnosis" in The Eighth Symposium on Life Information Science Joint with The 15th Annual Meeting of Japan Institute of Hypnosis, September 11-12, 1999.

Hideyuki KOKUBO and Mikio YAMAMOTO

National Institute of Radiological Sciences (Chiba, Japan)

(Received on January 21, 2000)

Abstract:
The International Society of Life Information Science (ISLIS) and the Japan Institute of Hypnosis (JIH) attempted collaboratively to compare physiological data during hypnosis and qigong. The authors report the results of electrodermal activity (EDA) and photoplethysmogram (PPG) during an image recall experiment in the hypnotic state and in static qigong (Shinki-unko-ho in Japanese; Zhenqi-yunxing-fa in Chinese). Subjects of the qigong experiment imaged "qi" and imagined its control inside their bodies. A subject of the hypnosis experiment was led into a medium (perceptual) hypnotic state, then he tried to form the image of a target Chinese character printed on a paper which was folded and then rolled into a ball with plastic clay to prevent its being opened. EDA [micro S] and beat rate of PPG [bpm] declined after the start of qigong and rose 2 minutes before its end. EDA had positive relationships with PPG in both qigong and hypnosis; r = 0.83 (p < 0.001) in qigong; r = 0.62 (p < 0.001) in hypnosis. Also, there was a negative relationship in the medium hypnotic stage during hypnotic induction; r =-0.47 (p < 0.05).
Keywords:
medium hypnosis, image recall, electrodermal activity (EDA), exosomatic method, skin conductance, photoplethysmogram (PPG), clairvoyance



[Opinion]

Without Peer Review



On a Stand-point for Scientifically Viewing Life Information

Tetsuzo AGISHI

Kidney Center, Tokyo Women's Medical University (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:
The author emphasizes that medical events may not always be totally understood by applying conventional thinking in the modern-science paradigm as medicine effectively functions through interrelative manifestations of an aesthesis which is established between a physician, a therapist, and a patient.
Keywords:
life information, external qigong, modern-science paradigm, state-specific science, mutual interrelations of aesthesis




[Proceedings of The Ninth Symposium of Life Information Science]


Without Peer Review




NOTICE

These abstracts of the articles in the Symposium Proceedings are preliminary reports and they are printed as provided by the authors who have full responsibility for their contents, which have not been edited by the editors of the Journal.



[Project Report]
Study on Analyzing Methods of Human Body Functions Using Various Simultaneous Measurements (VSM) - The Fifth Year Report of the 5-Year-Project Supported by Science and Technology Agency (STA), Japan -

Mikio YAMAMOTO1, Masahiko HIRASAWA1, Hideyuki KOKUBO1, Masataka TANAKA1, Kimiko KAWANO2,1, Dmitri V. PARKHOMTCHOUK1, Tong ZHANG1, Nobuo FUKUDA1, Tsuyoshi HIRATA3, Shio MURAKAMI3, Teruyoshi MOROE3, Katsuhiko MAKINO3, Kazuhiko TSUCHIYA3, Tomoko KOKADO1, Junko TANIGUCHI1, Atsuko NAKAMURA1,Mieko KURANO1, Akira FURUKAWA1, Masahide FURUKAWA1, Toru MATSUMOTO1, Hideaki SAKAIDA4 and Yoshio MACHI4,1

1National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) (Chiba, Japan)
2Nippon Medical School (Tokyo, Japan),
3NEC Corporation (Kawasaki, Japan)
4Tokyo Denki University (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:
The 5-year-project "Study on analyzing methods of human body functions using various simultaneous measurements (VSM)"(representative: Mikio YAMAMOTO) which started in September 1995 will conclude at the end of March 2000. The project was carried out mainly in the Bio-Emission Laboratory, Division of Radiation Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), Science and Technology Agency (STA) of the Japanese Government. The project was related to the realm of consciousness, spirit, mind-phenomena, qigong, anomalous perception and extrasensory perception (ESP). It had a budget of roughly 800,000 dollars / 5 years awarded from STA. This report describes the purposes of the project, activities and the studies, for the past 5 years and collects abstracts of papers and proceedings of the project. A full report will be published later. The studies of this group will continue in a new, expanded project.
Keywords:
qigong, sense shielding, extrasensory perception (ESP), concentration, subconscious, anomalous cognition, consciousness, electroencephalogram (EEG), auditory evoked potential, electrocardiogram(ECG), photoplethysmogram(PPG), electrodermal activity(EDA), respiration, magnetic field, infrared rays, biophoton, bio-emission, mammalian cell, Science and Technology Agency of Japan(STA)


Physiological Measurements during Qigong Training

Masataka TANAKA1, Hideyuki KOKUBO1, Masahiko HIRASAWA1, Tomoko KOKADO1, Junko TANIGUCHI1, Mikio YAMAMOTO1and Kimiko KAWANO1,2

1National Institute of Radiological Sciences (Chiba, Japan)
2 Nippon Medical School (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:
We have been periodically making the physiological measurements of qigong beginners in a qigong school to study their value changes during qigong training. In this paper, we describe analyses of ECGs (electrocardiograms), respiration patterns and PPGs (photoplethysmograms) of one subject who started training 11 months ago. In the experiment, we made the subject do a foot massage, standing posture qigong and Soubikou (a dynamic qigong), each with the eyes opened and closed, do mental arithmetic with the eyes closed, and answer a psychology test and a questionnaire. Analyses data showed differences when the eyes were opened and closed: 1) Both foot massage with the eyes closed and standing posture qigong with the eyes closed showed lower activity indexes of the sympathetic nervous system than when the eyes were opened; 2) Both foot massage with the eyes closed and standing posture qigong with the eyes closed showed many more long respiration periods than when the eyes were opened; 3) Both foot massage with the eyes closed and Soubikou with the eyes closed showed smaller respiration amplitudes than when the eyes were opened. The questionnaire answers suggested that closing the eyes was a relaxing factor.
Keywords:
ECG, HR, LF/HF, PPG, P-P interval, R-R interval, cubic spline, Fourier transform, qigong, respiration, sympathetic nervous system, upstroke time


Low Noise System with Optical Cable Probe for Ultra-weak Photon Emission Measurements from Living Matter

Dmitri V. PARKHOMTCHOUK, Masahiko HIRASAWA and Mikio YAMAMOTO

National Institute of Radiological Sciences (Chiba, Japan)

Abstract:
In this work we present some methods and results for ultra weak intensity photon emission measurements in visible spectra from living matter (biophotons). A sensitive detector was constructed on the basis of a vacuum insulated Peltier cooled (-20 degrees C) PMT. Features of the device include a small photocathode with small dark count and use of a bundled fiber optic cable (inner diameter 1 cm) as a probe, which allows small area measurements and convenient operation. Preliminary results of the possible qi influence on coherency of the biophoton field are presented.
Keywords:
biophotons, qi, coherence, photon counting statistics, PMT


EEG Analysis of Children while Concentrating on Task - Part II -

Kimiko KAWANO1,2, Mikio YAMAMOTO2, Masahiko HIRASAWA2, Hideyuki KOKUBO2, Tomoko KOKADO2, Junko TANIGUCHI2, Masataka TANAKA2
1Centre for Informatics and Sciences, Nippon Medical School (Tokyo, Japan)
2National Institute of Radiological Sciences (Chiba, Japan)

Abstract:
EEGs of six children (seven years old) who practiced image training and rapid reading were measured during concentration on tasks. Alpha waves on the occipital region tended to become large while subjects tried to get contents of a book while they were blindfolded. At the same time the alpha waves on the frontal region also became large and the ratio of the alpha amplitude on the frontal region to the occipital region (Fp2/O2), as an indicator of concentration, became larger than that in the resting state. The frequency of the alpha waves became faster during an imaging task. The alpha ratios of the right to the left hemisphere (O2/O1) were small in the beginning of the imaging task and of the blind-reading; it was considered subjects used the right hemisphere, and afterwards the ratios became larger, because of linguistic reports of their images. Beta waves tended to appear on the left side while rapid reading in Japanese and on the right while rapid reading in English. As a whole, the increasing rate of concentration estimated by the alpha waves was not so clear, though the Fm theta which is usually considered to appear on deep concentration, was often observed on some subjects.
Keywords:
EEG, alpha-wave, beta-wave, Fm theta, child, concentration, brain laterality


Analysis of Electrodermal Activity (EDA) in Remote Perception Task Using Electromagnetic Shield Cage

Hideyuki KOKUBO1, Mikio YAMAMOTO1, Masahiko HIRASAWA1, Kimiko KAWANO2,1, Tomoko KOKADO1 Junko TANIGUCHI1 and Nobuo FUKUDA1
1National Institute of Radiological Sciences (Chiba, Japan)
2Nippon Medical School (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:
In the present experiment, two qigong practitioners were put in separate rooms with communicational deprivation, while the authors measured physiological changes of one of the two, acting a Receiver, when the other, acting as a Sender, attempted to give "remote influence" to the Receiver at a distance. These subjects had shown statistical significant coincidences of the time of their apparent motions in previous similar experiments by the authors. The Receiver was seated in an electromagnetic shielding cage and the Sender performed only one "sending" motion per 80-second trial on double blinded and randomized conditions. The Receiver's skin conductances were sampled at a rate of 200Hz using an exosomatic method (DC 0.5V constant). In the results of 35 trials, fluctuation of the Receiver's skin conductance during "sending" was smaller than before and after.
Keywords:
electrodermal activity (EDA), skin conductance change, fluctuation, direct mental influence for living system (DMILS), anomalous cognition, telepathy, bio-PK


REM Sleep-Like Response Hypothesis on the Neurophysiological Changes Due to Sustained Attention in Qigong

Tong ZHANG1,2, Masahiko HIRASAWA1, Mikio YAMAMOTO1 and Kimiko KAWANO1,3

1National Institute of Radiological Sciences (Chiba, Japan)
2 Ochanomizu Women's University (Tokyo, Japan)
3 Nippon Medical School (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:
Since sustained attention to a specific object is the main characteristic of qigong exercise and meditation, in this paper the authors overview the physiological changes in the state of qigong (by reviewing some studies on qigong and meditation with EEG, PET) based on recent knowledge on attention and wake-sleep regulatory mechanisms. It is observed that the alpha and theta activities of EEGs increase, and activities of the vigilance attentional network in the right frontal lobe, the thalamus, and the innominate substance (a part of the basal forebrain) related to levels of arousal decrease. Furthermore activation of limbic system is a common point between REM sleep and the state of qigong. It is inferred that in the longterm sustained attention of qigong, due to the decline of activity in the noradrenergic system in which the locus ceruleus has the leading role, activities of the prefrontal lobe and basal forebrain decrease. The REM activating-type ones in the cell group ch5 and ch6 of cholinergic neurons, moreover the REM regulatory mechanism in the lower part of the brainstem are affected owing to disinhibition of the descending output from the posterior hypothalamic area, and a state similar to REM sleep is experienced.
Keywords:
qigong, sustained attention, EEG, alpha wave, prefrontal cortex, the limbic system, basal forebrain, hypothalamus, REM sleep, ACh, noradrenalin


Endocrine Changes during Cosmic Corbit Meditation of Qigong

Yuzo HIGUCHI1, Yasunori KOTANI1, Hironobu HIGUCHI2, Yongchang YU3 and Shinichiro MOMOSE4

1Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo, Japan)
2College of Medical Sciences, Tohoku University (Sendai, Japan)
3lnternational Qigong Association (Tokyo, Japan),
4Momose Hospital (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:
Six experienced practitioners of Qigong who were in good health participated in this experiment. Out of many static Qigong exercises, we selected the Yu Method Cosmic Corbit Meditation. Before and after a 40-minute meditation, the levels of cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, and beta-endorphin in venous blood were simultaneously measured to study changes. Immediately after practicing this static Qigong and also 40 minutes later, plasma adrenaline decreased significantly. The other items did not show significant changes. Based on the results, we believe that the level of sympathetic nerve activity declines and this affects endocrine changes.
Keywords:
Static qigong, cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, beta-endorphin, dopamine


[Special Lecture 1]
A Trial Psychosomatic Treatment for Cancer - Meaningful Life Therapy -

Jinroh ITAMI

Department for Intractable Diseases, Shibata Hospital (Okayama, Japan)

Abstract:
The author is a physician, mainly practicing internal medicine, and engaged daily in the treatment of people with cancer and intractable diseases in a hospital setting. He has been developing a psychosomatic treatment of cancer for about 20 years, which has been called "Meaningful Life Therapy". This therapy is psychologically based on Morita therapy, which was developed in Japan; psycho-oncology is its academic base. Meaningful Life Therapy takes a psycho-educational approach to study five psycho-social living guidelines through correspondence education, individual study, and group study. It combines unique methods including humor training, image training, painting therapy, quizzes, diary advice, and joint experiential study. The author's experiments revealed that resistance against cancer is enhanced by appreciating and laughing at humor and practicing image training. Furthermore, studies carried out in Europe showed that psychological treatment for cancer patients greatly lowers both recurrence and mortality rates.
Keywords:
psycho-somatic treatment, cancer, psycho-oncology, Morita therapy, Meaningful Life Therapy, natural killer cell activity


[Special Lecture 2]
Clinical and Basic Research on Biological Medicine Amalgamated with Western Medicine - Causes and Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis, Malignancy and Collagen Disease-

Yukie NIWA

Tosashimizu Hospital (Tosashimizu, Japan)

Abstract:
An increase in the occurrence of malignancy, severe collagen disease, and treatment-resistant and severe atopic dermatitis (AD) has been induced by free radicals which have increased in number as environmental pollutants, especially since 1970. Free radicals are mainly generated by nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are largely a product of petroleum combustion, and ultraviolet radiation, which has been enhanced by breaks in the earth's ozone layer caused by halogenated hydrocarbon gases. Treatment of these diseases in western medicine has used only chemotherapy or radiation which has a cytotoxic side effect that finally kills the human cells or corticoid therapy which also produces various and sometimes fatal side effects. On the other hand, non-main stream treatments such an biological medicine using natual plants and seeds have shown that although there are no side effects, their effectiveness is very limited. In this report, we have succeeded in developing effective natural products without side effects from natural materials; there is an abundance of low-or high-molecular weight compounds with antioxidant or cancer-cidal activity occurring in natural materials as repeating subunits of high-molecular weight inactive polymers. We developed an effective natural antioxidant by a unique treating procedure that includes heating with far infrared radiation (4-14 micro m wavelength) and brewing with the fungus Aspergillus oryzae to liberate the repeating units as active forms. The antioxidant named "AOA (antioxidant analog)" is produced from wheat germ, rice bran, soybean, "Hatomugi" (a kind of oriental wheat), wheat and sesame seed. We also obtained natural cancer-retardants BG-104, BG-103 and BWS, from the materials of Chinese herbs, mycelia and loquat. These natural cancer-retardants and antioxidant have shown dramatic effectiveness without any side effects in malignancy patients during progression and end stages and in severe collagen disease patients. The effectiveness exceeded that of cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiation or corticoid therapy in some subsets of the patients.
Keywords:
environmental pollution, free radicals, atopic dermatitis, malignancy, collagen disease, activation of natural products


Analysis of Intellectual Resonance (or Synchronization) Using a Card Game (6) Influence of Repetition within Two Days

Masahiro KURITA
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,University of Tokyo (Tokyo Japan)

Abstract:
In a series of previous studies, we have established a method to quantitatively analyze intellectual resonance based on a concrete message. This method allows us to analyze how and to what extent intellectual resonance occurs in a group, through the use of digital information such as numbers and characters. In this method, participants take their seats and fill out special cards according to game instructions. The degree of coincidence among neighboring participants is then examined and scores the are assigned to the results. The scores are evaluated using mathematical tools within a probability theory framework. We named this trial"Synchro-X". In this study, we analyzed the data of trials repeated within two days by 56 participants with an aim for resonance ("positive trial"). The results of our past study on Synchro-X showed that over a long-term period of ten weeks no learning effect was observed. This time we examined how the score may change with repetiton over a shorter period. Trials were done in six sessions over two days, with three series of trials in each session at two-hour intervals between each session (eighteen trials in total). The analysis showed that there was no tendency of the average score increasing as the session progressed, which suggested that no learning effect existed. Moreover, it showed that the average score of the first trials of each session was higher than that of the third trials (that is to say, the degree of coincidence was high). Hence, it was shown that the degree of coincidence falls during continuous repetition of the trial within six minutes, and no learning effect was observed over a short-term period of two days. It was suggested that the role of an intentional or conscious process was not large in the resonance phenomenon.
Keywords:
synchronization, card game, information transfer, synchro-X, subconsciousness, resonance, repetition


Analysis of Intellectual Resonance (or Synchronization) Using a Card Game (7) Influence of Seating Position

Masahiro KURITA
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:
In a series of previous studies, we have established a method to quantitatively analyze intellectual resonance based on a concrete message. This method allows us to analyze how and to what extent intellectual resonance occurs in a group, through the use of digital information such as numbers and characters. In this method, participants take their seats and fill out special cards according to game instructions. The degree of coincidence among neighboring participants is then examined, and the results are scored. The scores are evaluated using mathematical tools within a probability theory framework. We named this trial "Synchro-X". In this study, we analyzed the data of trials repeated within two days by 56 participants with an aim for resonance ("positive trial"). This time , we examined whether the spatial location influence the score. Concretely, it was examined whether scores differed between a boundary-edge group which sat in the vicinity of the arranged area and an inside group which sat inside the arranged area. Trials were done in six sessions over two days, with three series of trials in each session at two-hour intervals between each session (eighteen trials in total). An inside group was divided into an inside-border group which touched the edge group and an inside-center group for the remainder. The score of the boundary-edge group was corrected according to a simple mathematical rule. As a result of analysis it was shown with statistical significance that the score of the inside-border group was higher than that of the inside-center group. As for the boundary-edge group, it was shown that there was no significant difference in scores with the inside group. It has been understood that there is no siginificant problem in the correction of the boundary-edge group score. Moreover, as for the inside group which did not receive correction, the possibility that the seating position influences the score was suggested, since there was a difference in the score between the inside-border group and the inside-center group. It was thought that an unknown mechanism, which was unexplained by the probability theory, might take part in the resonance phenomenon that occurrs in a human group.
Keywords:
synchronization, card game, information transfer, synchro-X, subconsciousness, resonance, seating position


A Five-year Study on the Relationships between Alpha-Waves and Business Performance for a Japanese Businessman

Akiyoshi OSHIMA
WORD Laboratories Inc. (Urayasu, Japan)

Abstract:
It is qualitatively known that alpha-waves enhance business performance. This study aimed at substantiating this fact quantitatively by measuring alpha-waves every morning and evening for seven months, in order to determine (1) if the appearance of alpha-waves in the morning would enhance business performance of that day, or (2) if good business performance would increase alpha-waves in the evening. As a result, constant tendencies of (2) were observed. Then yearly, monthly and weekly differences in the appearance of alpha-waves and business performance were analyzed for a five-year period. In addition, changes in the appearance of alpha-waves due to weather, temperature and humidity were examined. It was found that the appearance of alpha-waves did not vary greatly with weather, temperature and humidity, while business performance changed significantly with the year, temperature and humidity.
Keywords:
alpha-wave, business, performance, timing, weather


Studies on the Localization of Meridian and Acupuncture Points Using the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test: A Study on the Large Intestine Meridian

Toshikatsu KITADE1 and Katsuji KUROKAWA2
1Meiji University of Oriental Medicine (Kyoto, JAPAN)
2Kurokawa Acupuncture Clinic (Nagoya, JAPAN)

Abstract:
A clinical examination of the path and acupuncture points along the Large Intestine Meridian - one of the meridians pertaining to Chinese Medicine - was conducted using the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test (BDORT). It was found that tracing the results on the surface of the skin, although not exactly identical, was roughly similar to meridian diagrams illustrated within acupuncture textbooks.
Keywords:
acupuncture meridian, large intestine meridian, Bi-Digital O-Ring Test, acupuncture point, acupuncture medicine, colon


Effects of Body Touching Therapy on the Elderly

Keiko TATSUMI1, Yoshinori ADACHI2, Yoshitake YOKOTA1, Manabu ASHIKAGA1 Shizuko TANAKA1 and Toshiaki SAKAI1
1Aino Gakuin College (Osaha, Japan)
2Chubu University (Aichi, Japan)

Abstract:
It has been found that touching therapy eases pain and feelings of patient. In this work, to know how touching therapy works for the elderly with dementia, average values of the skin electric conductivity, blood pressure, pulse rate, and skin surface temperature were measured. Interviews were also made with the subjects. For the comparison, the same examinations are done for healthy young and healthy elderly subjects. The results show that there are differences between the average neurometry values before and after touching, especially 1 day after the touching.
Keywords:
touching, elderly dementia patients, skin electric conductivity, thermograph, examination by interview


Bio-psychological Effects of Color

Mami KIDO
Faculty of Liberal Arts, Tohoku Gakuin University (Sendai, Japan)

Abstract:
Color effects of red, yellow, green , blue, purple and pink which appeared on autonomic nervous system related parameter AP and electroconductivity and blood flow related BP were measured by a single square voltage pulse method. AP was the lowest for red or green and the highest for blue. Blue exhibited high BP also. That meant blue excited the sympathetic nerve system and increased blood flow to the subjects in a relaxed state. The psychological and physical effects of very bright blue seemed to be influential. The experimental results corresponded well with impressions that subjects had during the experiment. Many subjects felt calmed by purple which is known as a healing color.
Keywords:
color effects, relaxation, autonomic nervous system, skin impedance, single square voltage pulse method, healing


Sound Effect of a Music Box on EEG

Yoshihiro UEDA1, Hitoshi KASHIBA1, Masaaki ISHII1, Toshio YANAGIDA2, Yuri KITAMURA2 and Yoshikatsu SAEKI1
1Dept. of Physiology, Kansai College of Oriental Medicine (Osaka, Japan)
2Dept. of Physiology, Medical School, Osaka University (Osaka, Japan)

Abstract:
It has been pointed out that the sound of a music box has a higher frequency over the audiblerange and that both the high frequency and its peculiar rhythm have a relaxation effect on listeners. One of the music therapies to make use of this effect as a healing method is the music box therapy. Therefore, the sound effect of a music box on the EEG and light topography was examined. Generally , a healthy person, physically relaxing with closed eyes, produces on alpha-wave pattern predominantly around the occipital region, and as the person becomes more relaxed, an increase of alpha-wave power and slow-wave power are observed. However, in this study using the sound of a music box in a relaxed condition, not only the increase of alpha-wave power and slow-wave were observed, but also the power of other frequency waves (especially beta-wave) increased. In this experiment, there was a chance to measure the EEG of a patient with peripheral sensory disturbance after cerebral thrombosis when the music box therapy was given, and a remarkable increasing tendency of beta-wave power was observed in this patient. These data show that the sound of a music box not only activates the cortex, but also influences the internal brain-wave activities through osteophony with its high frequency.
Keywords:
EEG, alpha-wave, music box, healing, light topography


A Study of Infrared Measurements during Qigong

Hideaki SAKAIDA1, Hideyuki KOKUBO2, Mikio YAMAMOTO2, Masahiko HIRASAWA2, Kimiko KAWANO2,3 and Yoshio MACHI1
1Tokyo Denki University (Tokyo, Japan)
2National Institute of Radiological Sciences (Chiba, Japan)
33Nippon Medical School (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:
Qigong is one Chinese mind-body training method. There are reports that the IR (infrared) emission modulated by a certain frequency was detectable from the body of someone practicing Qigong. There are also reports that this frequency accorded with the cycle of the Resp(respiration). The authors developed a device to measure the IR emission, and used it in experiments. The frequency that accorded with the cycle of the Resp was detected in the modulation component of the IR emission. Furthermore, because there is a relation between the IR emission and temperature on the skin surface, an experiment in which a temperature sensor was directly attached to the skin was also done. In this experiment, the frequency that accorded with the cycle of the Resp was detected. Moreover, it has been reported possible to presume the Resp rate from the temperature on the skin surface. This allowed the authors to suggest that modulation of the IR emission during Qigong was caused by variability of the Resp which appeared as variability of the temperature on the skin surface.
Keywords:
IR (infrared), Resp(respiration), temperature, skin surface, hand qigong


The Effect of the Controlled Respiration Period on Physiological Phenomena

Chao LIU1, Yoshio MACHI1 and Toshinori SUMI2
1Tokyo Denki University (Tokyo, Japan)
2Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:
The history of qigong can be traced back several thousand years in China. But now, it is spreading worldwide as a way for curing and preventing disease. There are many mechanisms in qigong which need to be clarified. One purpose of this research is to explain the mechanism of respiration which is important in the practice of qigong. We use the way normal people control their inhalation and exhalation time and measure their physiological phenomena, for example: SpO2, CO2, ECG, PPG, RSP, blood flow etc. From the results we find that the ability to adjust their own bodies differ between the people, even when they are asked to breath with the same posture and in the same way. This means for the basic exercises in qigong, we must consider how to practice each one properly, because people have different body features.
Keywords:
SpO2, O2, CO2, ECG, PPG, RSP, and controlled respiration


Physiological Effects of the Vocalizations in the Six-Word Practice

Chao LIU and Yoshio MACHI
Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo Denki University (Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract:
We have previously reported on physiological effects of the six-word practice. We continue that work with the present study in which we show the effects worked on an autonomic sympathetic system by vocalizations. In addition, the influene on the autonomic sympathetic system is checked from the measurements of size of the eye pupil during the relaxed period and the vocalizations. To analyze metabolism while doing the six-word practice, we measure the amount of carbon dioxide in nose exhalation of a subject. We find the amount of CO2 is 4% during the relaxed period, and it increases to 6% during standing posture qigong, and to around 6% even in the six-word practice. Therefore, metabolism is increased during qigong. However, the average exhaled amount of carbon dioxide is low during the six-word practice, showing the six-word practice places a light burden on the human body compared to the standing posture qigong. In addition, the strength in a vocalization is not proportional to blood flow of a capillary around the carotid artery. However, blood flow increases a little bit in a few weak vocalizations showing that the vocalizations must be done under qigong conditions.
Keywords:

autonomic sympathetic system, pupil size, CO2 analysis, blood flow


Last Modified: July 6, 2000

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