ELECTRICAL MEASUREMENTS CONCERNING MUSCULAR CONTRACTION (TONUS) AND THE CULTIVATION OF RELAXATION IN MAN—RELAXATION-TIMES OF INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

The course of muscular relaxation in man[long dash]the time from a sound-signal to relax to the cessation of contraction in the right forearm flexors[long dash]was measured in 14 students and in 22 neurotic or hypertensive patients. Of the students 13 failed to relax promptly; at the end of 1 sec. the microvoltage measured was ca. 3.0. Frequently the students failed to relax while awaiting the signal. In 6 patients, selected for test because of their marked restlessness and the high microvoltages they exhibited on measurement, failure to relax was generally much more striking than in any of the students. Certain other patients, definitely neurotic or hypertense at times, according to clinical observation, nevertheless gave curves like those of some of the students. After training, the patients all relaxed while awaiting the signal, and more promptly and completely as a rule than untrained students. No practice at relaxing on signal was included in the course of training. This affords further confirmation that relaxation can be cultivated in man.