Abstract
The intensity of the effect of stress caused by the process of learning of hand-sewing using a thimble on the behavior was measured, and its effects on the autnomic activities (heart rate, variability of the pulse intervals, etc.) and electroencephalograms were evaluated, in 8 unskilled and 6 skilled female college students during hand-sewing with and without a thimble. In the skilled sewers, the stitch was significantly longer with the thimble than without a thimble. In the unskilled subjects, no difference was observed in the efficiency of work between the two conditions. The HF component of the variability of pulse intervals was significantly lower with a thimble in both groups. However, the LF/(LF+HF) component was not different between the sewing and resting periods under both conditions in the unskilled subjects while it was significantly higher with than without a thimble in the skilled sewers. No significant difference was noted in electroencephalograms between with and without a thimble. However, the activities in the β zone during sewing without a thimble were higher at sites Fz and Cz in the unskilled subjects than the skilled subjects. The activities at site Pz during sewing with a thimble were also higher in the unskilled subjects. The mean activities of the α zone at the three sites were lower in the unskilled subjects but those of the β zone were higher in the unskilled subjects. These results suggest that the use of a thimble facilitates the work for skilled sewers but may cause stress that interferes with the learning of hand-sewing using a thimble in unskilled sewers.
