Psychosomatic Medicine Faster Service from Outside North America
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by BEARY, J. F.
Right arrow Articles by KLEMCHUK, H. P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by BEARY, J. F.
Right arrow Articles by KLEMCHUK, H. P.

Psychosomatic Medicine 36:115-120 (1974)
© 1974 American Psychosomatic Society

A Simple Psychophysiologic Technique Which Elicits the Hypometabolic Changes of the Relaxation Response

JOHN F. BEARY BS1, HERBERT BENSON MD1, and HELEN P. KLEMCHUK AB1

1 Thorndike Memorial and Channing Laboratories, Harvard Medical Unit, Boston City Hospital, 818 Harrison Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118 Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115

Address for reprint requests: Herbert Benson, MD, Thorndike Memorial Laboratory, Boston City Hospital, 818 Harrison Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02118

Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and respiratory rate are significantly decreased during the practice of a new, easily-learned relaxation technique. The elements of the technique are a mental device to prevent distracting thoughts, a passive attitude, decreased muscle tonus, and a quiet environment which is as free of visual and auditory stimuli as possible. Sitting quietly with the eyes either open or closed failed to produce the same changes. These physiologic changes are consistent with an integrated hypothalamic response resulting in hypothesized decreased sympathetic activity. This response has recently been termed the "relaxation response."

Submitted on May 18, 1973
Revised on July 27, 1973




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Br. J. Sports. Med.Home page
E E Solberg, F Ingjer, A Holen, J Sundgot-Borgen, S Nilsson, and I Holme
Stress reactivity to and recovery from a standardised exercise bout: a study of 31 runners practising relaxation techniques
Br. J. Sports Med., August 1, 2000; 34(4): 268 - 272.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Holist NursHome page
D. K. Schweer, L. K. Hart, O. J. Glick, and P. C. Mobily
The Willingness of Family Members of Critically Ill Adults to Learn the Coping Technique of Imagery
J Holist Nurs, March 1, 1999; 17(1): 71 - 87.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 ScienceHome page
J. Hoffman, H Benson, P. Arns, G. Stainbrook, G. Landsberg, J. Young, and A Gill
Reduced sympathetic nervous system responsivity associated with the relaxation response
Science, January 8, 1982; 215(4529): 190 - 192.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Journal of Humanistic PsychologyHome page
W. Drennen and B. Chermol
Relaxation and Placebo-Suggestion as Uncontrolled Variables in TM Research
Journal of Humanistic Psychology, October 1, 1978; 18(4): 89 - 93.



HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1974 by the American Psychosomatic Society