Abstract
The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of photic stimulation on the autonomic nerve system during a menstrual cycle of woman. Subjects were comprised of 10 healthy undergraduates with a regular menstrual cycle. Following photic and cold stimulations were inflicted ; blinks of white and black TV pictures at 0.1, or 5 seconds interval, and immersion of left hand in a cold water bath. The skin surface temperature (SST) of the apex of right middle finger was sequentially measured by thermography. The state of autonomic nerve on both stimulation tests was determined according to the responsive type previously reported by us. A fall of SST on a cold stimulation test was larger in the following order ; 1st week, 4th week, 3rd week, 2nd week of menstrual cycle, and both 1st and 4th weeks were determined as the sympathotonic state. As the photic blink stimulation was more intense, the abnormal reaction type, particularly sympathotonic type was found more in any week of menstrual cycle. On the stimulation test it was found that the 1st and 4th weeks of menstrual cycle were in the sympathotonic state, while the 2nd and 3rd weeks were in the normal or parasympathotonic state. From these results it was demonstrated that the photic stimulation through TV might strongly effect on the autonomic nerve system of women in the menstrual and premenstrual periods.
