| Abstrakt: |
Background. This article introduces the project "Functional information: Neurotropic effects of water exposed to informational factors." The first informational factor used was a placebo, specifically distilled water with verbal suggestion. Subsequent factors included ordinary water exposed to Kyokushin karate katas, Sense and Cross fields, Christian prayer, and Holy water. Additionally, water exposed to a magnetic field and bioactive Naftussya water from Truskavets' Spa were used. Material and methods. The study involved five male participants (aged 26-60 years, right-handed, without clinical diagnoses). In the morning, under baseline conditions, ECG recordings were taken to assess heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, alongside quantitative EEG measurements at 16 loci. Then, participants drank 50 ml of distilled water with the false message that this water had been treated (exposed to kyokushin karate katas) by the first author known as a karate practitioner, hypnotist and psychotherapist. After 1.5 hours, repeated testing was performed. The next day, a control experiment was conducted with the same distilled water, and earlier - with water from a well and pipe. In addition, the data of the baseline of the same participants, obtained both before and after the main experiment, were used. Results. Preliminary data analysis revealed that the effects of distilled, well, and tap waters did not differ significantly, so they were combined into one group (Control Waters, CWs). It was found that 1.5 hours after the consumption of CWs, 17 variables deviated significantly from the initial levels, and another 10 were slightly but statistically significant. We interpreted them as spontaneous rhythmic changes, but not the effects of water as such. Taking spontaneous rhythmic changes into account, an essential (per se) enhancing neurotropic Placebo effect (Z±SD) was found on 9 variables (0.92±0.66), a weak inhibitory effect on 8 variables (- 0.23±0.06), a moderate inhibitory effect on 10 variables (-0.67±0.15), and a noticeable inhibitory effect on 9 variables (-1.14±0.27). Significant individual differences in neurotropic reactions to placebo were revealed. Conclusion. Placebo as a carrier of functional information exerts pronounced modulating, mainly inhibitory, neurotropic effects. The neurotropic effects of other informational factors will be demonstrated in subsequent publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
