Budzynski et al

• He was testing biofeedback using analog monitors to measure forehead tension.
• He used the forehead in particular because it is a hard muscle to relax, so if muscle relaxation worked here it would work on other muscles.
• 15 participants were used.
• It consisted of 20 one-minute trails.
• Participants were asked to lie quietly, close their eyes, and focus on relaxing their forehead muscles. They did this for 20 one-minute trials for 1-3 days apart at the same time each day.
• Participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions.
• There were three conditions were;

  • Feedback group
  • Irrelevant feedback group
  • No feedback group
• • Feedback group: the monitor would make different toned sounds ( a low tone meant that deep muscle relaxation was being achieved), this allowed the participant to know if they were doing the right thing.
• • Irrelevant feedback group: the monitor would make a constant low-toned sound (this served as irrelevant feedback). They were told that the low tone would help them relax.
• • No feedback group: No tone was given (feedback was given), and the participants were told to relax in silence.
• There were clear differences between the three groups in terms of muscle relaxation. Those in the feedback group had better muscle relaxation/less muscle tension than the other groups.
• The feedback group showed a muscle tension decline of 50%.
• The irrelevant feedback group showed a muscle tension decline of 28%.
• The no-feedback showed a muscle tension decline of 24%.
• They took the person who had the least muscle relaxation in the no-feedback group and put him in biofeedback, they saw his muscle tension drop significantly, 60% less than what it was at the start.
• Feedback helps reduce muscle tension in individuals initially and throughout the study/trial.