The effects of suggestion on the total respiratory resistance of nonasthmatic female subjects

• Published in: Journal of psychosomatic research 1988, Vol.32 (4), p.409-416
• Main Authors: Wigal, Joan K., Kotses, Harry, Rawson, Jane C., Creer, Thomas L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Air breathing; Airway Resistance; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Pulmonary Ventilation; Respiratory system: anatomy, metabolism, gas exchange, ventilatory mechanics, respiratory hemodynamics; Set (Psychology); Suggestion; Vertebrates: respiratory system
• ISSN: 0022-3999; 1879-1360
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-3999(88)90024-4

Bronchodilation suggestion, bronchoconstriction suggestion, or neutral suggestion was given to thirty nonasthmatic female subjects; the effect of the suggestion on the total respiratory resistance ( R t ) of the subjects was examined. Subjects were told either (a) that they would inhale a substance which would make their breathing better, (b) that they would inhale a substance which would make their breathing worse, or (c) that they would inhale a substance which would have no effect on their breathing. In actuality, no subject inhaled any substance. Those subjects who were told that their breathing would worsen exhibited a reliable increase in R t , whereas those subjects who were told that their breathing would become better or that their breathing would not be affected exhibited no reliable change in R t . This study confirmed earlier work, showing that bronchoconstriction suggestion increases R t in healthy individuals. Furthermore, this study showed that bronchodilation suggestion alone is not sufficient to produce a decrease in R t .