Reduced Pupillary Sensitivity to Topical Phenylephrine Associated with the Relaxation Response

Authors
John W. Lehmann, Irene L. Goodale, Herbert Benson
Publication
Journal of Human Stress
Abstract

Human pupillary dilatation after topical instillation of phenylephrine was assessed in a prospective, randomized, controlled experiment to measure alterations in α-end-organ responsivity after regular elicitation of the relaxation response. Baseline pupillometric measurements were taken in both experimental and control subjects. The experimental subjects then practiced daily a technique that elicited the relaxation response while the control subjects sat quietly for comparable periods of time without eliciting the relaxation response. After four to six weeks, both groups returned to the laboratory for an assessment identical to that of the first visit. Comparison between visits revealed that the pupillary dilatation in the experimental group was significantly diminished (p < .02) as compared to that of the control group. This observation is consistent with reduced end-organ responsivity to an exogenous α-adrenergic agent after regular elicitation of the relaxation response.

Related Listings
Reduced Sympathetic Nervous System Responsivity...
Authors
John W. Hoffman, Herbert Benson, Patricia A. Arns, Gene L. Stainbrook, Lewis Landsberg, James B. Young, Andrew Gill
Journal
Science
·
Sympathetic nervous system activity was assessed in experimental and control subjects who were exposed to graded orthostatic and isometric stress during monthly hospital visits. After the first session, the experimental subjects practiced a technique that elicited the relaxation response. Their concentrations of plasma norepinephrine during subsequent graded stresses were significantly higher. No such changes were noted in the control group. These results were then replicated in the c […]
Decreased Alcohol Intake Associated with the Pr...
Authors
Herbert Benson
Journal
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
·
A wakeful hypometabolic state accompanies the practice of a relaxational, meditation technique called Transcendental Meditation. The state is characterized by decreased oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide elimination, respiratory rate and minute ventilation, with no change in respiratory quotient. Arterial blood pH and base excess decrease slightly while arterial blood lactate markedly decreases. Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures remain unchanged. The electroenceph […]
Specific Transcriptome Changes Associated with ...
Authors
Manoj K. Bhasin, PhD, John W. Denninger, MD, PhD, Jeff C. Huffman, MD, Marie G. Joseph, BA, Halsey Niles, BA, Emma Chad-Friedman, BA, Robert Goldman, BA, Beverly Buczynski-Kelley, RN, Barbara A. Mahoney, RN, Gregory L. Fricchione, MD, Jeffery A. Dusek, PhD, Herbert Benson, MD, Randall M. Zusman, MD, Towia A. Liebermann, PhD
Journal
Journal Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Objective: Mind–body practices that elicit the relaxation response (RR) have been demonstrated to reduce blood pressure (BP) in essential hypertension (HTN) and may be an adjunct to antihypertensive drug therapy. However, the molecular mechanisms by which the RR reduces BP remain undefined. Design: Genomic determinants associated with responsiveness to an 8-week RR-based mind–body intervention for lowering HTN in 13 stage 1 hypertensive patients classified as BP responders and 11 as n […]