Effects of cognitive and psychomotor tasks on breath-holding span.
Bartlett (J. Appl. Physiol. 42: 717-721, 1977) demonstrated that a psychomotor task (hand dynamometer) extended breath holds at functional residual capacity (FRC) in a manner comparable to Valsalva and Mueller maneuvers. This led us to the hypothesis that distraction of a subject's attention from dyspneic sensations accounted for Bartlett's findings. This hypothesis was tested by comparing a hand dynamometer task (rubber-bulb squeeze) with a mental performance task (mental arithmetic). Results for tasks performed separately and concurrently in a within-subjects design showed comparable effects, without reaching a FRC breath-hold performance ceiling. Implications of results for effects of nonmechanical and nonchemical factors on respiratory drive are discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D005652:Functional Residual Capacity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012119:Respiration; D013997:Time Factors