The effect of citrus ginger aroma on heart rate and salivary cortisol level during sleep at home. Issue 4 (28th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jiang, Fang; Kobayashi, Takemi; Ichihashi, Takurou; Ito, Kanetoshi; Nomura, Shusaku
• Is Part Of: IEEJ transactions on electrical and electronic engineering. Volume 14:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 623
• Page End: 629
• Publication Date: 2018-11-28
• Subjects: citrus ginger -- heart rate -- cortisol -- cortisol awakening response (CAR); Electrical engineering -- Periodicals; Electronics -- Periodicals; 621.3
• DOI: 10.1002/tee.22845
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1931-4973

Abstract

Abstract : The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of odor on the heart rate (HR) and salivary cortisol levels during sleep at home. Twenty male students (aged 20.9 ± 0.74 years) participated in the study and were exposed to three different odorants (apple, cedar wood, and citrus ginger) or a scentless control sample each night in their home environment in a counterbalanced order. In this within‐subjects study design, all subjects were instructed to sleep at home for 6 h, from 00:00 to 06:00, and HR was measured using a wristwatch‐type HR monitor. Saliva samples were obtained before sleep and after awakening. While subjective sleep quality at awakening did not differ between conditions, tension and anxiety, as assessed by the Profile of Mood State Questionnaire, significantly decreased from the night before sleep to the next morning on which citrus ginger exposure was provided ( p < 0.01). Moreover, HR during sleep and after awakening, as well as cortisol secretion after awakening, was significantly higher in the citrus ginger condition ( p < 0.01–0.05). Hence, the inhalation of citrus ginger aroma during sleep may enhance sympathetic nervous and endocrine system activity while alleviating psychological tension and anxiety. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.