Document Type
Abstract
Publication Date
1-2020
Academic Year
2019-2020
Abstract
Introduction: Difficulties regulating attention and arousal underlie common developmental conditions and impact performance in academic and work tasks. Sensory-based activities such as sitting in a rocker chair may help regulate attention and arousal by providing sensory stimulation. This pilot study assessed autonomic nervous system activity (ANS) while seated in a specially designed rocking chair providing vestibular sensation during a performance task.
Methods: Thirty-four adults (aged 20-35 years) were randomized to either a rocker chair (Virco Zuma, n = 17) or static chair (n =17) while performing cognitive tasks in a counterbalanced design. ANS measures of skin conductance level (SCL) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were taken at 3-minute periods at baseline, performance, and recovery to assess sympathetic and parasympathetic activation respectively.
Results: For the group using the stationary chair first, sympathetic activity increased from baseline to task (p=.000) and baseline to recovery (p=.002). Likewise with the Zuma chair first group, sympathetic activity increased from baseline to task (p=.000) and baseline to recovery (p=.000). For the Zuma chair group only, sympathetic activity decreased from task to recovery (p=.000). RSA did not have any statistically significant changes for either group.
Discussion: While these findings were not consistent with the hypothesis that chair type impacts a change in ANS during performance, only the Zuma chair first group had a significant decrease in sympathetic activity from task to recovery. This suggests that using a rocker chair may help decrease arousal level after the task. Further research with larger samples sizes and longer duration tasks is needed to further validate this finding.
Recommended Citation
Lubeck, Jonathan; Schaaf, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Roseann C.; and Dumont, MS, OTS, Rachel L., "Effects of Rocking on Attention and Arousal" (2020). Phase 1. Paper 43.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/si_ctr_2022_phase1/43
Language
English
