The Effects of Various Stimuli on

Breathing Patterns
AGRIPO | FORONDA | MATAAC | MONSALVE | PICART
INTRODUCTION
RESPIRATORY BELT TRANSDUCER
● Measure chest movements so that physiological effects
of various stimuli can be observed.
● Measure changes in the thoracic and abdominal
circumference during respiration

Compression
And Tension Voltage (by transducer)
Expansion
BREATHING PATTERNS

EUPNEA

DYSPNEA

TACHYPNEA

ORTHOPNEA

HYPERPNEA

APNEA (Mukerji, V. 1990)

EUPNEA
● Easy , Free Respiration under
resting conditions
● Efficient in terms of maximal air
intake and minimal muscular
effort
● Employs only elastic recoil of
lungs
| DYSPNEA
● Difficult and Uncomfortable Breathing
● Subjective experience with
qualitatively distinct sensations in
varying intensities
Sensations:
Effort | Chest Tightness | Air Hunger
Associated with Asthma and Pneumonia
TACHYPNEA | ORTHOPNEA

● Rapid Shallow Breathing ● Sensation of breathlessness in the

● Increase in the respiratory rate recumbent position
above normal ( 12-20 ● Caused by pulmonary congestion
breaths/min : Normal) during recumbency

Associated with high fever(remove

excess heat) and compensatory
alkalosis ( remove excess CO2)
HYPERPNEA | APNEA

● Deep Breathing ● Cessation in Breathing

● Disproportionate rise in minute ● Muscle movement for inhalation does
ventilation relative to an increase not occur
in metabolic level

Different from hyperventilation:

Attempts to satisfy O2 demand
Does not intent to inappropriately
blow off CO2

Observed during exercise and

Hypoxia
 pH as an indirect measure of CO2 content in blood

CO2 + H2O ↔ H2CO3

H2CO3 ↔ H+ + HCO3-

CO2 pH
 pH as an indirect measure of CO2 content in blood

CO2 + H2O ↔ H2CO3

H2CO3 ↔ H+ + HCO3-
Note that at high pH…
CO2 + OH- ↔ HCO3-
CO2 pH
Lung Volume and Lung Capacities
Lung volumes : classified as
● Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV)
● Tidal Volume (TV)
● Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)
● Residual Volume (RV)
Directly measured
The value of lung volume is smaller
than that of lung capacity.
Lung capacity : classified as
● Inspiratory Capacity (IC)
● Functional Residual Capacity
(FRC)
● Vital Capacity (VC)
● Total Lung Capacity (TLC)
Inferred from lung volume
The lung capacity is a combination of
two or more lung volumes.
Lung volumes
● Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV)
additional volume of air that can be inhaled with utmost effort after a
normal inspiration
● Tidal Volume (TV)
volume of air breathed normally in and out without any effort
● Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)
additional volume of air that can be exhaled forcibly after normal
exhalation.
● Residual Volume (RV).
volume of air left in the lungs at the end of maximal expiration
Factors that affect volume

● ALTITUDE
● HEIGHT
● NON - OBESITY
Lung Capacities
● Inspiratory Capacity (IC)
Total of Tidal Volume and Inspiratory Reserve Volume (VT + IRV)
● Functional Residual Capacity (FRC)
Expiratory reserve volume plus the residual volume (ERV + RV)
● Vital Capacity ( VC)
total utilizable volume of the lungs which is under voluntary control
● Total Lung Capacity (TLC)
total volume of the lungs, and it is the sum of residual volume and
vital capacity.
Objectives

● Observe different aspects of breathing:

Breath-holding, hyperventilation, and rebreathing
expired air using a respiratory belt transducer
● Effects of pain, drinking, coughing, laughing,
mental concentration, and exercise on breathing
were also observed
METHODOLOGY
 A respiratory belt transducer
connected to the PowerLab/
LabChart™ software was
used to record the breathing
pattern of the test subject.

The respiratory belt

transducer was strapped to
the upper abdomen of the
SETTING UP THE subject.

APPARATUS
 Subject was kept from
looking at the PowerLab
interface for the duration of
the experiment.
● Prevent
subject-expectancy effect

SETTING UP THE
APPARATUS
Normal Breathing Pattern

● Subject was instructed to breathe normally for 1-2

minutes.
● Breathing pattern was recorded to determine normal
respiratory rate.
Hyperventilation (Open System)

● Subject was instructed to breathe deep and fast for 30

seconds.
● Breathing of the subject after hyperventilation was
recorded.
Hyperventilation (Closed System)

● Subject was instructed to hyperventilate into a paper bag

for 30 seconds.
● Breathing after hyperventilation was recorded.
Rebreathing Expired Air

● Subject was instructed to breathe normally into a paper

bag for several minutes.
● Breathing pattern was recorded.
Mental Concentration

● Breathing pattern was recorded while the subject was

asked to solve a math problem.
Breath Holding

● Subject was asked to hold breath after:

○ Breathing in normally
○ Breathing out normally
○ Breathing deep and fast for 30 seconds then inhaling
○ Breathing in maximally
○ Breathing out maximally
● ...until breaking point was reached.
Emotion or Pain

● Subject was asked to breathe normally.

● Application of pain (either through a pinch or a slap) was
performed without prior warning.
● Breathing pattern was recorded throughout.
Drinking

● Breathing pattern was recorded while the subject slowly

drank water.
Speech

● Breathing pattern was recorded while the subject breathed

normally for a few cycles, before being instructed to read
orally.
Obstruction of Respiratory Passageways

● Subject squeezed nostrils in order to partially occlude

airway.
● Breathing pattern was recorded while subject breathed
through the nose.
Laughing and Coughing

● Breathing patterns were recorded before, during, and after

laughing and coughing
Exercise

● The subject was asked to exercise in place until he was

exhausted. The breathing patterns of the subject were
continuously recorded until normal breathing rate was
restored.
RESULTS
AND
DISCUSSION
Factors that influence the level of affinity of O2 and a
Respiratory Pigment

1. Warm Temperature
Environment Temp
Metabolic Rate Affinity of O2 and Hemoglobin
Demand of O2

2. Elevated CO2
Bohr Effect | Root Effect | Haldane Effect

3. Binding of Organo-phosphates
ATP and GTP also has affinity to Hemoglobin = Affinity of O 2 and
Hemoglobin
BOHR | ROOT | HALDANE

pH pH WHEN O2-Hb bind

(acidic) they dissociate,
so O2 can be delivered to
Affinity Reductio tissues with O2 demand
of Hb-O2 n of
Known
carrying
capacity
of Hb
Normal Breathing

Normal Respiratory Rate =

12 breaths/minute

Approximately the same

magnitude of rise (inhalation)
and fall amplitude
(respiration)
Boyle’s Law
- Inverse relationship
between volume of gas
and its pressure; as the
volume of the container
increases, the pressure
of the gas decreases
Inhalation/Inspiration

Diaphragm and external intercostal

contract

Increasing lung volume

Decreased gas pressure inside the lungs

Gas flows from the outside into the lungs

Exhalation/Expiration

Diaphragm and external intercostal relax

Internal intercostal contract

Decreasing lung volume

Increased gas pressure inside the lungs

Gas flows from the lungs to the outside

Breathing
- Controlled by respiratory centers

Medulla
● Medullary respiratory center
○ Dorsal Respiratory Group
(DRG)
○ Ventral Respiratory Group
(VRG)

Pons
● Pneumotaxic center
● Apneustic center
Dorsal Respiratory Group Ventral Respiratory Group
(inspiratory center) (expiratory center)

- Made up of inspiratory - Both inspiratory and

neurons expiratory neurons
- Firing results to - Inactive during
inhalation normal breathing
- Termination of - Only activated as
stimuli results to ‘overdrive’
exhalation
- Impulse to diaphragm - Active expiration by
and external intercostal impulse to internal
muscles intercostal muscles

Apneustic Center
- Prevent inactivation of the
inspiratory neurons in the
DRG
- Lead to apneusis
- Prolonged inspiration
with brief expirations
Pneumotaxic Center
- Overrides apneustic center
- Deactivates the inspiratory
neurons
- Limits the duration of
inspiration
Normal Breathing

Normal Respiratory Rate =

12 breaths/minute

Approximately the same

magnitude of rise (inhalation)
and fall amplitude
(respiration)
Theoretical:
Age 15-20 yrs old
12-20 breaths/min
Respiratory rate =
CRESTS and TROUGHS are equally (Number of cycles within a period of time)
spaced / Constant Amplitude ---> ( Period of time)
Rate of Inspiration = Rate of Expiration

(American Academy of Pediatrics, 2006)

Effect of Hyperventilation

During Hyperventilation =
(4 breaths/8 seconds)
30 breaths/minute

Post Hyperventilation =
n 17 breaths/minute
tio
tila

Hyperventilation
L rven The frequency of respiration
MA pe
NO R
st-hy increased with a lower
Po amplitude, hence shallow
breathing developed post
hyperventilation period.
Ventilation Hyperventilation
- Process of air exchange Decrease CO2 partial pressure in blood
between the lungs and the
ambient air in respiratory Increase in blood pH
physiology (Respiratory Alkalosis)

Decreases stimulation of medullary

Hyperventilation respiratory centers
- Increase in the amount of
air moved in and out of Increases affinity of O2 to hemoglobin
the lungs by changes in:
1. Rate of breathing Decreases amount of O2 transported
2. Depth of breathing throughout the body

SHALLOW BREATHING
(Randall et al., 2001; Munemoto, et al., 2013)
Effect of Hyperventilation in a Closed System

During Hyperventilation =
(11 breaths/30 seconds)
22 breaths/minute

Post Hyperventilation =
ng
lati ion L 20 breaths/minute
e nti tila
t RM
A
erv
o st- ven NO
Hyp P
pe
r Some waveforms during
Hy hyperventilation had higher
amplitudes

Shallow Breathing was less

pronounced
Closed System Inspiration of CO2 from paper bag
- A system wherein inhaled Increase CO2 partial pressure in
and exhaled gases are not
blood
able to exchange materials
with the external Decrease in blood pH (acidic)
environment
- Paper bag Stimulation of medullary respiratory
centers
O2 consumed
CO 2
accumulates Less Pronounced SHALLOW
BREATHING
CO2 deficit relieved by
inevitable CO2 inspiration

Partial pressure of CO2

increases more rapidly vs.
Open System (Van den Hout etal.,1988) (Experimental did not follow Theoretical)
 Effects of Rebreathing Expired Air

Respiratory Rate =
11-12 breaths/minute

Relatively uniform breathing

rate pattern of the volunteer
for 10 seconds for every
minute of breathing expired
air.
te
te

te
te
nu
inu

nu
inu

al
mi

mi
tm

rm
Amplitude of breathing was
dm

No
d

relatively smaller as can be

1s

4th
2n

3r

compared to the normal

breathing
Rebreathing expired air
Increased carbon dioxide in
the air
Intake of air rich in carbon
dioxide
Increased acidity of blood
and tissue fluids above
normal value
Individual can undergo FORCED
BREATHING
● Consists of Deep and Rapid
Breathing to washout CO2
from lungs
Similar to Hyperventilation to
lower excess carbon dioxide

Deep and rapid breathing

Theoretical

● Demonstrates the powerful increase in the drive to breathe during reduced O 2

● Eventually decreases as the oxygen in the closed system begins to run out

Skow et al., 2015

Effect of Mental Concentration

Respiratory Rate =
15 breaths/minute

Amplitude of breathing was

significantly lower and
frequencies were higher.

During Mental
AL

Concentration
RM
NO
Shorter amplitudes Activity in Higher Centers of the
of breathing with brain
Lower frequency

When concentration is Inhibitory or Dampening effect

deep: on the medullary respiratory
● Short periods of
apnea
centers

Rate and Depth of

respiratory movement

(Shea et al., 1993) (Experimental did not follow Theoretical)

 Effect of Breath holding : Normal Inspiration
Breath held for 1 minute and 30 seconds | Breathing movement after breaking point was expiration|
Amplitude of the last inhalation before breath holding was not equal to the amplitude of the first exhalation
after breath holding
Effect of Breath holding : Normal Expiration
Breath held for 1 minute and 22 seconds | Breathing movement after breaking point was deep inspiration|
Amplitude of the last exhalation before breath holding was not equal to the amplitude of the first inhalation
after breath holding
Effect of Breath holding : Deepest Inspiration
Breath held for 1 minute and 6 seconds | Breathing movement after breaking point was deep exhalation|
Amplitude of the last deep inhalation before breath holding was approximately equal to the amplitude of the
first exhalation after breath holding.
Effect of Breath holding : Maximal Forced Expiration

Breath held for 1 minute and 10 seconds | Breathing movement after breaking point was deep inhalation|
Amplitude of the last deep exhalation before breath holding was approximately equal to the amplitude of
the first inhalation after breath holding.
Effect of Breath holding : Hyperventilation
Breath held for 2 minutes and 20 seconds | breathing movement after reaching the breaking point was a
brief exhalation followed by an immediate inspiration
Time of Breath Hold

Conditions Time(seconds) Theoretical:

(Experimental did not follow theoretical)
Normal Inspiration 90

Hyperventilation
Normal Expiration 82

Increasing duration
Deep Inspiration 66
Deep Inhale
Maximal Expiration 70
Normal Inhale
Hyperventilation ( 140 Normal Exhale
end with
inspiration)
Deep Exhale
Sources of input for breathing rhythm control
Sources of input for breathing rhythm control

Chemoreceptors Mechanoreceptors
❖ Brain stem (central) ❖ Pulmonary stretch
receptors
❖ Carotid bodies
and Aortic bodies
(peripheral)
Sources of input for breathing rhythm control

Chemoreceptors
❖ Brain stem (central)
➢ detect CO2 and H+ accumulation
in brain tissues
❖ Carotid bodies and Aortic bodies
(peripheral)
➢ detect decreases in O2 and increases
in CO2 in arteries

→ increase in breathing rate

Sources of input for breathing rhythm control

Mechanoreceptors
❖ Pulmonary stretch receptors
➢ Detect stretching/inflation of
the lungs

→ decrease in breathing rate

→ inhibits the drive to inhale

Deep inspire Experimental:

- Increased O2 levels (Hyperoxia)

- Decreased CO2 levels
→ longer time to reach threshold
for chemoreceptor activation
Normal Inspire Deep Inspire

90 seconds 66 seconds (!)

- Activation of stretch receptors
→ decrease in drive to breathe

→ longer holding of breath

Maximal Expire Experimental:

- Decrease in stimulus to stretch

receptors
→ increase in drive to breathe

Normal Expire Maximal Expire

→ shorter holding of breath
82 seconds 70 seconds
Hyperventilation Experimental:

- Decrease in arterial CO2 levels

→ longer time to reach threshold
for chemoreceptor activation

Normal Inspire Hyperventilation

90 seconds 140 seconds

→ longer holding of breath
 Intensity of Last breath
End with Inhalation - Determines amount of O2 to
- Increased arterial O2 levels be used or Co2 that is in
decreased arterial Co2 levels excess
- Increased time to reach threshold for
chemoreceptor activation
- Maximal inspire: activation of Hyperventilation ( end
pulmonary stretch receptors, causing
decrease drive to breathe inspiration)
- Reduces arterial CO2 levels
End with Exhalation resulting to longer
- Less O2 for metabolic uses, breath-hold duration
increasing preference to resume
breathing
- Maximal expire: decreases stimulus
to stretch receptors, sooner drive to (Skow et al., 2015)
breathe
Effects of Pain

Inhalation motion was delayed and exhalation

was extended

Recovery of normal breathing rate was

achieved shortly after.

Theoretical:
Increase respiratory rate and depth

Metabolic breathing influenced by

emotional center of the brain, limbic
system
Metabolic breathing
influenced by
brainstem and limbic
system (emotional
center of brain)
- Perception of emotions or
pain influences breathing
pattern
- Pain induces activation
of hypothalamus
- Emotions induce
activation of amygdala
- Pain = ↑ breathing rate
- Effect of emotions on breathing
patterns is still an area of
research. However, so far…
- Feelings of excitement (e.g.,
anger, fear, and joy) → fast and
deep breathing
- Tense anticipation (e.g., fear and
panic) → rapid and shallow
- Relaxed state → slow and deep
- Passiveness and withdrawal →
slow and shallow
Effects of Drinking Water

Inspiration stops and

stabilizes at a very low
amplitude.

APNEA is observed

Compared to the normal

breathing pattern,
periods after drinking
had higher amplitude of
APNEA breathing.
Decrease Drinking and Breathing employ
Temporal Coordination
respiratory rate - Epiglotttis covers larynx when
and depth drinking and open it when
breathing (Swallowing reflex)

Swallowing occurs at the end of

inspiration and is followed by
expiration

(Smith et al., 1989)

Effect of Speech

Very high amplitude

and sharp periods
of breathing

Breath is held
longer than usual
during exhalation
while reading prior
to the following
inhalation motion.
During Speech
AL
RM
NO
Lower respiratory
frequency

- Mild arousal that depresses gain

of the baroreflex control of sinus
node
- Extended expiration period
- Associations between
physiological and lingual factors
in control of speech breathing
- Neural planning of
respiratory system

(Murphy et al., 1997)

Effect of Obstruction of Respiratory Passageways

Respiratory rate =
9 breaths/ minute

Smaller amplitude and

more curved/less sharp
periods of breathing
AL

With Partially Obstructed Respiratory Passageway

RM
NO
 Obstruction
Shallow
breathing due to
inability to inhale
↓ Blood O2 ↑Retained CO2
enough air
- Obstruction leads to decrease in
blood O2 and increase in retained

-
CO2
To compensate for shortage,
Increased breathing rate
increased breathing rate
- Nasal obstruction is associated
with breathing disorders while
sleeping (e.g. apnea and
hypopnea)
 Effect of Laughing

Periods of breathing are

unstable with varying
amplitudes and magnitudes

Notably some amplitudes of

breathing periods were
higher compared to normal
respiration but sharp
apneas and extended
AL

LAUGHING….LOL …. LAUGHING ….LOL

RM

exhalation are also

observed.
NO
Deep breathing
exhaled slowly

- Requires deep breathing

that saturate lungs
- Large amount of air
exhaled slowly
- Sudden occurrence of
short repetitive
exhalation
Effect of Coughing

Periods of breathing are very sharp and have high

amplitudes of inhalation

Increase in depth in exhalation periods are

observed denoting the action of coughing
RE

R
N
FO

TE
RI
DU
BE

AF
Forceful
expulsion of air

- Protective reflex caused

by irritants
- Increased pressure
followed by forceful
expulsion to remove
Closed glottis + contraction of
irritants abdominal and rib muscles
behind glottis = pressure
Laughing and Coughing

decrease Chest
in lung wall
volume volume
- Maximum expiratory caused by
decrease in volume due to
outside pressures and
compression
- High crest then significant
decline -> maximum expiratory
flow of gas
- Loosening of compression on
airways
Effect of Exercise

Respiration rate =
35 breaths/minute

Periods of breathing
spikes up to high
amplitudes that are very
sharp and unstable.

SE
CI
When the exercise was

ER
AL

stopped, breathing

EX
SE
RM

ER G

pattern was observed to

R
EX RIN
CI

TE
NO

have lower amplitudes

DU

AF
with sharp periods.
Control of ventilation during During exercise
exercise
Exercise
● Cortical influence
- Motor cortex stimulates medulla Neurogenic factors
● Peripheral influence
○ Chemoreceptors Stimulate medulla
- Co2, o2 levels
○ Mechanoreceptors Increased respiration rate
- Send sensory input from the
tendons, muscles, and joints
Hering Breuer reflex
- Prevent overinflation of Pulmonary stretch receptors
the lungs
- Send impulse to medullary
- Pulmonary stretch
receptors located in the center, inhibiting inspiratory
tracheobronchial tree neurons
and visceral pleura - Cuts inspiration short to prevent
over inflation of the lungs
Stimulus Respiratory Rate Depth

Hyperventilation Increase Increase (during)

Decrease (post)

Hyperventilation(closed) Increase Increase (during)

(Decrease (post)

Rebreathing expired Air Varies Varies

Mental Concentration Decrease Decrease

Breath-holding Varies Varies

Pain Increase Increase

Drinking Decrease Decrease

Speech Decrease Increase

Nasal Obstruction Increase Increase

Coughing/Laughing Varies Increase

Exercise Increase Increase

 Additional references

Difference Between. (13 March 2013). Difference Between Lung Volume and Lung Capacity. Retrieved 5
October 2017 from
http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-lung-volume-and-vs-lung-capacity/

Mukerji, V. (1990). Chapter 11: Dyspnea, Orthopnea, and Paraoxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea. In. H. K.
Walker, W. D. Hall, & J. W. Hurst (Eds.), Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory
Examinations (pp. 78-80). Boston: Butterworths

Murphy, K., Corfield, D. R., Guz, A., Fink, G. R., Wise, R. J. S., Harrison, J., & Adams, L. (1997). Cerebral areas
associated with motor control of speech in humans. Journal of Applied Physiology, 83(5), 1438-1447

Skow, R. J. Day, T. A., Fuller, J. E., Bruce, C. D., & Steinback, C. D. (2015). The ins and outs of breath
holding: simple demonstrations of complex respiratory physiology. Advances in Physiology Education,
39(3), 223-231. doi: 10.1152/advan.00030.2015