The Effects of Stress on Components of the Respiration Cycle

Some respiratory correlates of affect were examined by a computer partitioning of breath duration mid inspiration, expiration, and postexpiration pause components and found that breath times were longer during the first film viewed by the subjects than during then during subsequent films.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Some respiratory correlates of affect were examined by a computer partitioning of breath duration mid inspiration, expiration, and postexpiration pause components. Negative affects (primarily anxiety and hostility) were induced by showing stress films. The subjects' affects were assessed by a mood adjective checklist, and respiration by measures of thoracic and abdominal circumference during the viewing of stress and neutral films. No stress effect was observed on total breath time (respiration rate). However, expiration nines were longer and pause limes shorter during the stress than during the neutral 61ms. It is suggested that these changes may be due to increased tension in respiratory muscle groups. It was also found that breath times were longer during the first film viewed by the subjects than during then during subsequent films This pattern was observed when the subjects were cautiously attentive, and is attributed primarily to an increase in inspiration duration.