Abstract
In this paper we examined the influence of repetition of weight-related sentences on the involuntary pressure forces of the forearms, when in a relaxed state. These forces were involuntary oscillations, exerted by muscle movements of the breathing-cycle and muscle movements of the arm on force sensors. We constructed a linguistic bio-mechanical system (Ablasmi), where in each arm of a padded relaxation chair contained special sensors that were specifically designed to detect the pressure forces of each forearm while participants listened to the specific recorded weight-related sentences. In this experiment we used some classic sentences, such as “your right/left arm is heavy,” inspired by Autogenic Training (Schultz in Le training autogene. Paris, PUF, 1974) and some sentences, such as “your right/left arm is made of lead,” inspired by Grossmann’s relaxation technique. We observed that when the recorded sentences were directed to the right arm there was a significant increase of involuntary pressure forces on the right forearm. Additionally, we observed the same effect on the left forearm for the sentences directed to the left forearm. Thus, we believe we have provided experimental evidence of a definite linguistic effect of weight-related sentences on the involuntary pressure forces of the forearms. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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Notes
Participants listened to sentences describing actions performed with the mouth, the hand, or the legs.
Vincent Dissez.
Big My Secret (Michael) Nyman 1993.
For example, in this phrase we have two repeated suggestive sentences.
For example, in this phrase we had two repeated suggestive sentences.
For example, in this phrase we had two repeated suggestive sentences.
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Acknowledgments
We express our many thanks to Luca Bonatti, Associate Professor of Epistemology at Nantes University, for reading this paper and offering valuable advices. Many thanks to Jessica Corbyn and Frances Bifield, for making corrections in English. Words of final thanks are owed to Vincent Dissez, French actor, who loaned his voice for the 8 protocols recorded on the 8 CD-Roms used in our experimentation.
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Santarpia, A., Blanchet, A., Mininni, G. et al. The “Weight” of Words on the Forearms During Relaxation. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 34, 105–111 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-009-9081-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-009-9081-6