The impact of the type of playful massage movements on the perception of tactile stimulation in children: EEG study

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Abstract

Tactile play and playful massage are a normal interaction between adults and children in many cultures. Experimental data show that activation of the C-tactile system during such playful touches contributes to children’s socialization and the establishment of psychoemotional bonds in the parent-child dyad. However, comprehensive studies of the effects of different types of touch on perception of tactile stimulation in children have not been conducted before. Twenty-three children participated in the present study: 10 in the preschool age group and 13 in the elementary school age group. Children in both groups received play massage containing different types of touch with simultaneous recording of electroencephalogram (EEG) and heart rate. EEG processing included determination of spectral power, alpha rhythm peak frequency and fractal dimension. Analysis of the results showed that the relaxing effect of the procedure was more pronounced in children of primary school age, which can be explained both by the greater maturity of the CNS and the greater need for tactile contact, which is not realized in the school environment.

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About the authors

E. A. Dydenkova

State Institute of the Russian Language named after A.S. Pushkin; Kozma Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University

Author for correspondence.
Email: dydenkovaeva@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow; Nizhny Novgorod

E. V. Zhukova

State Institute of the Russian Language named after A.S. Pushkin

Email: dydenkovaeva@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow

G. М. Khairulina

Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: dydenkovaeva@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow

L. A. Mayorova

State Institute of the Russian Language named after A.S. Pushkin; Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: dydenkovaeva@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow; Moscow

G. V. Portnova

State Institute of the Russian Language named after A.S. Pushkin; Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: dydenkovaeva@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow; Moscow

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Supplementary files

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1. JATS XML
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2. Fig. 1. Graphic description of the massage story “Weather Forecast”, consisting of three stages. Each stage (а, б, в) includes three main movements. Explanations of movements – (г)

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3. Fig. 2. Each story includes three schematic illustrations (1, 2, 3). Graphic description of the massage story “Rails-Rails” – (a). Graphic description of the massage story “Let’s Bake a Pie” – (б). Graphic description “Let’s comb the horse” – (в). Explanations of movements – (г)

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4. Fig. 3. Flowchart of the study design, reflecting the data recording protocol using labels 0 – 8

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5. Fig. 4. Subjective assessment by experts of the behavior of preschool and school-age children before and after the play massage procedure

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6. Fig. 5. (a) – decrease in heart rate by the end of the first story – В (A – the first stage of the first story; Б – the second stage of the first story; В – the third stage and completion of the first story; Г – the second story; Д – the third story; Е – fourth story). (б) – increase in SDRR by the end of the first story – В

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7. Fig. 6. Changes in the APF (a), FR (Б) and slow-wave activity power (В) with different types of massage movements (A – Е) and at rest (background). A – the first stage of the first story, Б – the second stage of the first story, В – the third stage of the first story, Г – the second story, Д – the third story, Е – the fourth story

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