Respiratory resistance during emotional stimulation: evidence for a nonspecific effect of experienced arousal?

We investigated the effects of phasic emotional stimuli on total respirator y resistance (TRR) in 16 nonasthmatic students. Six series of happy, neutra l, and depressing affective pictures and self-referent Velten statements we re presented. Each stimulus was presented for 12 s and subsequently imagine d for 12 s. TRR was measured by forced oscillations throughout the stimulus series, together with ventilation, cardiac activity (including respiratory sinus arrhythmia), and facial EMGs (corrugator supercilii, orbicularis ocu li, and masseter). In addition, self-reports of mood, pleasure and arousal were obtained. TRR was increased during happy and depressing stimuli compar ed to neutral stimuli, with stronger effects for the inspiratory component of TRR. Ventilatory parameters did not explain the changes observed in TRR. Discrimination of affective categories by facial EMG was weak. Although EM G masseter activity did not account for this result, an influence of the re spiration measurement procedure on facial EMG cannot be ruled out. The TRR results are in accordance with clinical reports of asthmatic symptom aggrav ation due to positive or negative emotional arousal. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.