Subjects completed visual analog scales for well-being, including relaxation and peacefulness, at warm-up postcontrol immediately postintervention and after the postintervention rest and were asked about what they and the practitioner had done during each study period. Subjects' autonomic activity, including heart rate, was measured continuously. For tactile interventions, the practitioner touched subjects on arms, legs, and hands for nontactile interventions, the practitioner pretended to read. During all interventions, the practitioner meditated on loving-kindness toward the subject. Subjects were randomized to receive one of four interventions: (1) 10 minutes tactile (2) 20 minutes tactile (3) 10 minutes nontactile or (4) 20 minutes nontactile.
Each subject underwent five sequential study periods in one study session: (1) warm-up (2) control-with the practitioner while both read neutral material (3) rest (4) intervention-with practitioner meditating on loving-kindness toward the subject and (5) rest. This study tested the feasibility of delivering two lengths of time (10 and 20 minutes) and two strategies (tactile and nontactile) for a practitioner to nonverbally communicate compassion to subjects who were blind to the interventions. Healthy volunteers were informed that we were testing the effects of time and touch on the autonomic nervous system. Compassion is critical for complementary and conventional care, but little is known about its direct physiologic effects.
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