Respiratory pattern’s modifications at healthy subjects, under the influence of emotions

Abstract

Introduction: The respiratory pattern represents a set of volume and time parameters which characterize respiration, and in special movements Associated with it. Indices of respiratory pattern are very sensible at various psihoemotional actions (Boiten 1994). Nowadays the psychophysiology of breath has a broader development, in special was proved that different emotions can modify the respiratory pattern ( Boiten 1998).We realised this research in order to establish the specific influence of various emotions or of emotional behaviour on the components of the respiratory pattern. In the previous researches (Boiten 1998) the influence of the emotions was studied only on a few parameters (2-3) of the respiratory pattern. Nowadays the physiological experimental practice allow us to realise a more precise and keen measurement of the respiratory pattern.

Materials and methods: The study was realised on a sample of 10 healthy subjects, 6 women and 4 men aged 19 to 24 years. The respiratory pattern was recorded by respiratory plethysmography with inductance using the VisuResp (UBI France) device. All recordings were performed in the supine position. Emotional states were modeled by showing video sequences or films thru a lap- top located next to the examined person. Videos lasted 2 min each with 2 min breaks between them. Modeled emotional states: disgust, horror, amusement, sadness, fear (anxiety ), tenderness. he routes obtained were analyzed using the VisuResp software while statistical processing was performed using the StatsDirect program. The following parameters of the respiratory pattern where examined: Vt- Tidal volume(l); Ti- the duration of inspiration(sec);T- total duration of the respiratory cycle(sec);Ti/T- the part of inspiration from the total cycle; Vi/Ti- the inspiratory drive; VIF- minutevolume( air flow in 1 min). Discussion results: The analysis of the obtained results revealed that the biggest effect on the parameters studied had the feeling of digust. Three respiratory pattern values of six studied were changed statistically significant under the action of this emotional behavior. The tidal volume was decreased (0.260±0.08 vs 0.319±0.96; P<0.005) also did the minutevolume (4.55±1.37vs4.86±1.34, P<0.05) while the respiratory drive was raised (0.179±0.05vs0.11±0.04, P<0.05). The respiratory drive proved to be also sensible to the sense of fear (0.178±0.05vs0.11±0.04,P<0.05) and tenderness (0.181±0.05vs0.11±0.04,P<0.05). The minute-volume reduced at the reproduction of sadness(4.51±1.46vs4.86±1.34,P<0.05) and fear (anxiety) (4.41±1.51vs4.86±1.34,P<0.05). The character of observed changes complete the data obtained by previous authors, enlarging the knowledge spectrum on influence of emotions on respiratory pattern. These data allow us to suppose that the keen tuning of the respiratory behavior is taking place with the contest of CNS structures involved in the generation and expression of the emotions. Also these structures are involved in the tuning of respiration (Davis 1992, Masaoka et at 2012).

Conclusion:The data we obtained contribute to a better understanding of the psychophysiological tuning of respiration

Key-words:respiration,emotions.