New study shows that reading poetry can produce a calming effect.


Dietrich von Vonin (University of Berne, Switzerland) and Dr. Henrick Bettermann (University of Witten, Germany) studied 7 individuals. Note: I think a larger study group may be needed.

Here is the process:

Researchers measured 7 participants heart rate for 15 minutes (to get a baseline)
Seven individuals recited poetry aloud for a 30-minute period.
Researchers measured 7 participants heart rate for 15 minutes again.

I think it would have been appropriate to measure their heart rate while they were reciting the poetry aloud.

Vonin and Betterman found that heart rates slowed during the post-15 minutes.

I question if the effect may have been from the post 15-min. deep breathing (after having read poetry aloud for the past 30-minutes) which could cause a person to need some time to relax.

However, the control group had had regular conversation for 30-minutes. They didn’t read the poetry aloud, but were talking. They didn’t have the same outcome during the post 15-minute period.

Reading poetry aloud could be a form of recreational therapy/ preventative medicine. Recreational therapists who use bibliotherapy, relaxation training, stress management, or leisure education/ leisure counseling may benefit from knowing this information.

I think Recreational Therapists who use the HeartMath measurement tool with their patients could benefit most from this information. The HeartMath tool measure heart rate variability. I the HeartMath tool to be biofeedback, however, they don’t advertise their product as being biofeedback.

Patients who use this tool under supervision of trained recreational therapist could practice reading poetry aloud to determine if they can decrease heart rate variability by reading.

Source:
http://preventdisease.com/news/articles/poetry_calms_heart.shtml