The application of bilateral alternating stimulation in tactile (BLAST) form technology, a non-invasive, somatosensory-based method, has been shown to modulate the electrical activity of brain networks that mediate the stress response, resulting in a stress-reducing effect in individuals with high reported levels of anxiety, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, we examined archival data from a heterogeneous group of users (n = 1109) of BLAST technology via Touchpoints, a novel BLAST-based treatment modality, all of whom had high self-reported levels of stress and anxiety. Ratings of levels of emotional stress and bodily distress on a scale of 0 (no stress/distress) to 10 (worst stress/distress of one's life) before and after the application of Touchpoints for 30 seconds were entered into an app. Results showed a statistically significant reduction in the levels of both emotional stress and bodily distress, 62.26% and 50.502%, respectively, after 30 seconds of BLAST technology was applied. This demonstrates a clear benefit of BLAST on the stress response, reducing both emotional stress and disturbing body sensations. Recent work examining EEG changes after BLAST technology is applied suggests that BLAST may reduce sympathetic activation by reducing the electrical activity of key areas of the salience network. Further work will more precisely characterize the effects of BLAST, its potential clinical uses, and the mechanisms of actions behind it's apparent stress-reducing effects.

Objective The aim of this archival study was to utilize quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) recordings to explore the effects of Bilateral Alternating Stimulation Tactile (BLAST) technology on Hispanic individuals following the recollection of a stressful event. It was hypothesized that significant changes in the participants’ qEEG recordings would occur following the BLAST condition and that would, in turn, represent decreases in anxiety. Participants and Method The clinical sample consisted of 6 Hispanic individuals: 3 identified as Nicaraguan, and 3 identified as Hispanic/Biracial. Ages of the participants ranged from 6 years to 51 years, and they had various diagnoses such as ADHD, Specific Learning Disability, and Anxiety. 19-channel 5-minute qEEG recordings were collected utilizing a NeuroField Q20 amplifier and was stored using NeuroGuide at three different time points: a baseline measure when thinking of the stressful event, during the delivery of BLAST, and after removing the devices. Paired t-test analyses were conducted before and after BLAST with NeuroGuide’s Neurostat software. Results EEG recordings comparing the stress condition to the BLAST condition exhibited reduced activity in right frontal Theta at 4-8 Hz in the frontal channel locations (FP2, F4, and C4). Significant reductions were also found in Beta 1 at 12-14 Hz in the frontal channel locations (F3, FP2, and F7), reductions in Gamma at 40-50 Hz at C4, reductions in Delta (1-4 Hz) and Theta (4-8 Hz) at C4. Additionally, increases in high Beta (25-30 Hz) and Beta 2 were found at C4. Conclusions The results indicate that BLAST technology may be an appropriate intervention for Hispanic individuals to reduce cortex activity associated with anxiety and stress. Generalizability is difficult due to the study’s small sample size. Thus, a larger sample size should be recruited and tested to determine the sustainability of the effects in a more inclusive population.