BCIA Stress Management & Relaxation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In biofeedback-assisted stress management, 'generalization' refers to:
- Teaching the same technique to multiple clients simultaneously
- The transfer of self-regulation skills from the clinic to real-world stressful situations (Correct answer)
- Applying one biofeedback modality across multiple conditions
- Standardizing protocols across different practitioners
Correct answer: The transfer of self-regulation skills from the clinic to real-world stressful situations
Generalization is the goal of biofeedback training—enabling clients to apply learned self-regulation skills outside the clinic in daily life without equipment.
Question 2: The sympathetic nervous system's activation of the adrenal medulla results in release of which hormones?
- Cortisol and aldosterone
- Epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (Correct answer)
- Oxytocin and vasopressin
- Insulin and glucagon
Correct answer: Epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine
Sympathetic activation triggers the adrenal medulla to secrete epinephrine and norepinephrine, producing the rapid cardiovascular and metabolic changes of the stress response.
Question 3: Which measure of heart rate variability reflects the high-frequency (HF) component associated with parasympathetic activity?
- LF/HF ratio
- RMSSD and HF power (0.15–0.40 Hz) (Correct answer)
- Total power
- Very low frequency (VLF) power
Correct answer: RMSSD and HF power (0.15–0.40 Hz)
RMSSD and HF spectral power (0.15–0.40 Hz) reflect vagally-mediated respiratory sinus arrhythmia and are the primary parasympathetic HRV indices.
Question 4: Skin temperature biofeedback training typically involves placing the temperature sensor on which body location?
- Forehead
- Fingertip or finger pad (Correct answer)
- Earlobe
- Wrist pulse point
Correct answer: Fingertip or finger pad
The fingertip is the standard sensor placement for temperature biofeedback because peripheral vasomotion is most pronounced there and reflects sympathetic tone clearly.
Question 5: During effective relaxation training with biofeedback, which physiological changes would be expected?
- Increased EMG, decreased skin temperature, increased heart rate
- Decreased EMG, increased skin temperature, increased HRV (Correct answer)
- Increased EDA, increased respiration rate, decreased alpha
- Increased cortisol, decreased HRV, decreased skin resistance
Correct answer: Decreased EMG, increased skin temperature, increased HRV
Effective relaxation is marked by reduced muscle tension (EMG), peripheral vasodilation (increased hand temperature), and increased heart rate variability (HRV).
Question 6: The Stress Inoculation Training (SIT) approach, when combined with biofeedback, primarily aims to:
- Eliminate stress responses permanently
- Build resilience by teaching coping skills and self-regulation before exposure to stressors (Correct answer)
- Increase stress tolerance by suppressing emotional responses
- Desensitize clients to all possible life stressors
Correct answer: Build resilience by teaching coping skills and self-regulation before exposure to stressors
SIT combines psychoeducation, skill rehearsal (including biofeedback-based physiological regulation), and graded stress exposure to build resilient coping.
BCIA Stress Management & Relaxation 2
In biofeedback-assisted stress management, 'generalization' refers to: