絶食療法の脳波学的研究 : 特に脳波パワースペクトルの変動について

抄録

In order to ascertain whether or not the therapeutic mechanism of fasting therapy lies within the changes occurring within the central nervous system, an electroencephalogram was recorded before, during and after fasting therapy. This therapy consisted of complete fasting for 10 days with subsequent resumption of regular meals for 6 days. EEG data was passed to the computer using a Sanei Model Signal Processor 7TO7. The resultant power spectrum covered the frequency range from D.C. to 25Hz with 0.195Hz resolution. Such spectra were obtained from the left occipital region at various stages of the therapy. During the experiment, patients were awake with their eyes closed. Changes in EEG power spectra through therapy were examined by peak frequency and percent energy. The average peak frequency of forty patients was 10.3Hz before fasting, but it decreased to 9.5Hz following 10-day fasting. After the recovery phase, it again increased to 10.1Hz. This decrease in peak frequency through fasting correlates statistically with a decrease in blood sugar level (r=+0.36,P<0.05). Subsequently, the percent energy was obtained at a frequency range of 4 to 20Hz. This range was divided into three parts : 'theta' with a range of 4 to 8Hz, 'alpha' with a range of 8 to 13Hz, and 'beta' ranging from 13 to 20Hz. The average percent energy of 40 patients for 'theta', 'alpha' and 'beta' was, respectively, 16%, 63%, 21% before fasting, 18%, 65%, 17% after 10-day fasting, and 15%, 70%, 15% after the recovery phase. The percent energy of 'alpha' after fasting therapy was significantly higher than that of the pre-fasting stage (P<0.001), while the percent energy of 'beta' after fasting therapy was significantly lower than that of the pre-fasting stage (P<0.001). The significantly higher percent energy of alpha waves indicates the stable psychological state of the post-fasting period. On the other hand, the beta waves decreased during the fasting period, and they did not reappear again in the same fashion even after the recovery phase. As these waves indicate psychological conditions of anxiety, tension and irritation, their decrease may imply objectively that fasting can ease these symptoms. These neurophysiological findings imply that Altered States of Consciousness, or ASC, have much to do with the psychotherapeutic effect. Since ASC can be attained easily through fasting, it is suggested that fasting therapy is an effective somatopsychic approach.