Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 4, 2026
04:27
Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans
Published on: March 15, 2019
Biobehavioral effects of therapeutic touch
1University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Nursing, 877 Madison Avenue, Room 616, Memphis, TN 38103, USA. vengle@utmem.edu
Summary
Therapeutic touch (TT) may cause vasoconstriction and alter time perception, with effects differing from placebo. This biobehavioral study explored both adverse and positive outcomes of TT.
Area of Science:
- Biobehavioral science
- Complementary and alternative medicine
Background:
- Therapeutic Touch (TT) is a complementary therapy.
- Understanding TT's biobehavioral effects is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- Document immediate and short-term biobehavioral effects of TT.
- Estimate the magnitude of TT effects.
- Compare TT effects to placebo responses.
Main Methods:
- Quasi-experimental design with repeated measures.
- Standardized protocols for TT and mimic TT in 11 adults.
- Evaluated physiological and subjective variables over 24 hours.
Main Results:
- Significant decrease in total pulse amplitude (vasoconstriction) and time perception immediately after TT.
- Effect sizes for TT were larger than placebo responses.
- Observed vasoconstriction, contrary to expected vasodilation.
Conclusions:
- Therapeutic Touch may yield both adverse and positive outcomes.
- TT's biobehavioral impact requires further investigation.
Related Concept Videos
01:54The Placebo Effect
The placebo effect occurs when people's expectations or beliefs influence or determine their experience in a given situation. In other words, simply expecting something to happen can actually make it happen.
01:30Therapeutic Communication
Communication is a lifelong learning process. Through therapeutic communication, nurses can collect relevant assessment data, provide education and counseling, and interact during nursing interventions. Sending and receiving messages occur through verbal and nonverbal communication techniques and can happen separately or simultaneously.
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
Verbal communication depends on language or a prescribed way of using words so that people can share information effectively. The critical aspects of verbal...
01:15Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch
The history of therapeutic communication can be traced back to Florence Nightingale, who emphasized the importance of developing trusting relationships with patients. She taught that the presence of nurses with patients results in therapeutic healing.
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...