Dynamics of Facial Subcutaneous Blood Flow Recovery in Post-stress Period

The aim of the study was to compare effects of music and white noise on the recovery of facial blood flow parameters after stressful visual stimulation. Twenty-nine subjects participated in the experiment. Three visual stimulation sessions with aversive slides (the IAPS, disgust category) were followed by subjectively "pleasant" (in the first session), "sad" music (in the second ), and white noise (in the third ). Order of sessions was counterbalanced. Blood flow parameters (peak blood flow, blood flow velocity, blood volume) were recorded by Laser Doppler single-crystal system (LASERFLO BPM 403A) interfaced through BIOPAC 100WS with AcqKnowledge software (v.3.5) and analyzed in off-line mode. Aversive visual stimulation itself decreased blood flow and velocity in all 3 sessions. Both "pleasant" and "sad" music led to the restoration of baseline levels in all blood flow parameters, while noise did not enhance recovery process. Music on post-stress recovery had significant change in peak blood flow and blood flow velocity, but not in blood volume measures. Pleasant music had bigger effects on post-stress recovery in peak blood flow and flow velocity than white noise. It reveals that music exerted positive modulatory effects on facial vascular activity measures during recovery from negative emotional state elicited by stressful slides. Results partially support the undoing hypothesis of Levenson (1994), which states that positive emotions may facilitate process of recovery from negative emotions.