1999 Volume 26 Pages 28-37
Factors influencing the human biochemical responses to mental stresses were studied by examining urine samples from male and female subjects before and after receiving two different kinds of mental stresses : per-forming mathematical calculation and riding roller coasters. Psychological tests (MPI and TGE) were also given to all the subjects in order to elucidate the relationship between the psychological characteristics and the biochemical data. The results suggest that the human biochemical responses to mental stresses, which are reflected by changes in the urinary excretion levels of catecholamines and some major minerals, vary according to various factors such as gender, psychological characteristics and differences in properties of the stresses. The results of these experiments indicate that Kai-Gou, a relaxation strategy of qi-gong, is effective in alleviating the calculation stress-induced biochemical changes at least among some of the female subjects with particular psychological characteristics.
