The purpose of this study was to examine the independent and combined effects of thermal biofeedback and thermal suggestions on peripheral temperature control. Four treatment groups were compared: biofeedback, suggestion, combined biofeedback-suggestion, and a control group receiving only instructions requesting that the subjects attempt to raise their peripheral temperature. All groups received these same response-specific instructions. It was hypothesized that the group receiving the combined treatment would demonstrate the greatest amount of peripheral temperature control and that the control group would demonstrate the least.40 subjects participated in the study (10 per group). Before attending three treatment sessions, each subject attended two baseline sessions. Temperature change was computed from the end of a stabilization period to the end of a 15 minute training period. This temperature change on baseline days represented the subject's natural drift in peripheral temperature. Baseline day changes were subtracted from training day changes in order to control for each individual's natural drift. The resulting change scores were used as the dependent variable.A 4 X 3 ANOVA with repeated measures on the last factor was the statistical design used to analyze the data. There were no significant effects found at the .05 level. The results of this study are therefore indicative of the following conclusions:1. Biofeedback, suggestion, or a combined biofeedback, suggestion method, when used in conjunction with response-specific instructions for raising peripheral temperature, are not significantly different from each other in their effects upon peripheral temperature control. Also, the effects of these treatments on peripheral temperature control are not significantly different from the effects of a treatment consisting only of response-specific instructions.2. Regardless of treatment received, peripheral temperature control is not effected by the amount of training received over three training sessions.3. The effects of the different treatments upon peripheral temperature control is not dependent upon the amount of training received over a three session period of time.Although not significantly lower, the mean of the control group consistently demonstrated the poorest level of peripheral temperature control. All four treatment groups were able to demonstrate peripheral temperature control.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/175750 |
| Date | January 1982 |
| Creators | Daniel, Rolf |
| Contributors | Richmond, David F. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | v, 73 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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