The effect of non-invasive mechanical stimulation to the facial skin on parasympathetic nervous activity and mental stress

• Project/Area Number: 17K01804
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied health science
• Research Institution: Tokoha University
• Principal Investigator: HOSHIKAWA Hidetoshi 常葉大学, 健康プロデュース学部, 教授 (00258948)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 沢崎 健太 常葉大学, 健康プロデュース学部, 教授 (80387935)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥720,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000)
• Keywords: 非侵襲性の皮膚刺激 / 精神ストレス / 自律神経 / 非侵襲性皮膚刺激 / ストレス / 暗算 / 自律神経活動 / セルフケア / 皮膚刺激

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of non-invasive mechanical stimulation to the facial skin on autonomic nervous activity. Non-invasive mechanical stimulation caused the same increase in parasympathetic nerve activity as the cold stimulation, and these responses were different at the stimulation site on the facial skin and speed. Although mental arithmetic stress increased sympathetic nerve activity, the response was suppressed by the stimulation to the facial skin. Thus, it was revealed that non-invasive mechanical stimulation to the facial skin enhances parasympathetic nerve activity and improve the imbalance of autonomic nerve activity induced during mental stress.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

慢性的なストレス状態は，交感神経活動を亢進させ，様々な疾病を誘発させる．したがって，抑制された副交感神経活動を高めることができれば，ストレスによって誘発される疾病等の予防・改善につながる．本研究では，顔への非侵襲性の機械的な皮膚刺激が副交感神経活動を高め，暗算ストレスによる交感神経活動の亢進を抑制させた．顔への非侵襲性の機械的な皮膚刺激は，衛生管理も容易で，特別な技術も必要とせず，手軽にできるストレス・ケアとして有用であると考えられた．

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Effects of elastomer roller stimulation of facial skin on autonomic nervous activity (2018)
  • Author(s): Hoshikawa Hidetoshi、Sawazaki Kenta
  • Journal Title: Clinical Autonomic Research Volume: 29 Issue: 1 Pages: 127-128
  • DOI: 10.1007/s10286-018-0582-3
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Effects of Noninvasive Mechanical Skin Stimulation to the Cavum Concha by Microcones on Autonomic Nervous Activity during Mental Arithmetic Task. (2019)
  • Author(s): Hoshikawa, H., Sawazaki, K., Nakazawa, H., and Murakami, T.
  • Organizer: WFAS（Antalya/Turkey,国際学会）
• [Presentation] The effect of non-invasive mechanical stimulation to the facial skin on autonomic nervous activity at rest in human. (2018)
  • Author(s): Hidetoshi Hoshikawa, Kenta Sawazaki, Hiroyuki Nakazawa, Takayasu Murakami
  • Organizer: 第10回 台北国際中医学術論談
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Effects of Noninvasive Skin Stimulation by Microcones on Autonomic Nervous Activity during Mental Stress Task (2017)
  • Author(s): Hidetoshi Hoshikawa, Kenta Sawazaki, Hiroyuki Nkazawa, Takayasu Murakami
  • Organizer: WFAS 2017
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Effect of non-invasive skin stimulation on stress model animals (2017)
  • Author(s): Hiroyuki Nakazawa, Murakami Takayasu, Hidetoshi Hoshikawa, Kenta Sawazaki
  • Organizer: WFAS 2017
  • Int'l Joint Research