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Psychosomatic Medicine 36:115-120 (1974)
© 1974 American Psychosomatic Society

A Simple Psychophysiologic Technique Which Elicits the Hypometabolic Changes of the Relaxation Response

JOHN F. BEARY BS1, HERBERT BENSON MD1, and HELEN P. KLEMCHUK AB1

1 Thorndike Memorial and Channing Laboratories, Harvard Medical Unit, Boston City Hospital, 818 Harrison Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118 Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115

Address for reprint requests: Herbert Benson, MD, Thorndike Memorial Laboratory, Boston City Hospital, 818 Harrison Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02118

Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and respiratory rate are significantly decreased during the practice of a new, easily-learned relaxation technique. The elements of the technique are a mental device to prevent distracting thoughts, a passive attitude, decreased muscle tonus, and a quiet environment which is as free of visual and auditory stimuli as possible. Sitting quietly with the eyes either open or closed failed to produce the same changes. These physiologic changes are consistent with an integrated hypothalamic response resulting in hypothesized decreased sympathetic activity. This response has recently been termed the "relaxation response."

Submitted on May 18, 1973
Revised on July 27, 1973




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Copyright © 1974 by the American Psychosomatic Society