Brain mechanisms and autonomic nervous activities of infant massage on emotional response by tactile stimulation

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25670969
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Lifelong developmental nursing
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: WATANABE HIROKO 大阪大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (20315857)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TANAKA YAYOI 京都光華女子大学, 健康科学部, 助教 (80636184)
• Research Collaborator: NOMACHI SHINOBU 兵庫県立大学, 看護学部, 客員教員(専任講師) (40570487)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: インファントマッサージ / 触覚刺激 / 快情動 / 近赤外分光法 / 育児支援

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Nine infants aged 3-6 months and their mothers were recruited at an infant massage class.Near-infrared light from the laser diodes of a multichannel f-NIRS system (LABNIRS; Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan) was directed at the forehead through fibre optic bundles. The mothers massaged the infants for 15 sec, followed by a 15-sec rest period, approximately 10 times session. The oxy-Hb concentration was reduced in six of the nine infants after 5 sec of tactile stimulation. After 5 sec, the rate of reduction was 66.7%, and it was 77.8% after both 10 sec and 15 sec of tactile stimulation. Even at the finishing massage 5 sec later, the rate of reduction was 88.9%. This study suggests that tactile stimulation by massage reduces the concentration of oxy-Hb in the infant brain. Massage therapy can be used to reduce the brain activity of infants and relax and comfort them.

Free Research Field

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