Pulmonary changes induced by frontal EMG training.

Earlier research suggested that the effects of facial muscle tension changes on other responses are not widespread but limited to a rather narrow set of pulmonary events. Further evidence in support of the specificity of the facial muscle-pulmonary relationship was provided in the present study by monitoring changes in several responses as a function of muscle tension training. Feedback training for increases and decreases in muscle tension at both facial and limb muscle sites was given to adult males. The effects of these manipulations on PEFR, RR, and HR were examined. Increases in facial muscle tension resulted in PEFR decreases whereas increases in limb muscle tension did not. Decreases in facial muscle tension were not observed as a function of training and no PEFR changes resulted from these conditions. Neither RR nor HR were related to the facial EMG changes observed during feedback training. These observations demonstrated the specificity inherent in the relationship between facial muscle tension and PEFR, and lent support to the hypothesis that these two responses are linked reflexively.