PLASMA-CATECHOLAMINE LEVELS DURING TEMPERATURE BIOFEEDBACK TRAINING IN NORMAL SUBJECTS

Thirty-nine normal volunteers of both sexes were randomly assigned to receive 8 sessions of temperature biofeedback or autogenic training to increase finger temperature. Temperature biofeedback subjects produce d significant elevations in finger temperature during training, wherea s those who received autogenic training did not. Temperature feedback subjects had significantly higher heart rates and diastolic blood pres sures during training compared to autogenic subjects. There were no si gnificant changes or group differences in plasma catecholamine levels. These data do not support the hypothesis that feedback-induced vasodi lation is accompanied by decreased sympathetic activation in normal po pulations, when only temperature biofeedback is employed.