title: Threat of suffocation and defensive reflex activation.
abstract: The current study examined emotional reflex reactions of participants threatened with respiratory distress caused by imposing a resistive load at inspiration. Cues signaling threat (breathing MAY be difficult) and safe periods were intermixed while startle reflexes, heart rate, skin conductance, and facial EMG activity were measured. Compared to safe cues, threat cues elicited significant startle potentiation, enhanced skin conductance, heightened corrugator EMG changes, and pronounced "fear bradycardia" consistent with defensive activation in the context of threatened respiratory dysfunction. These data indicate that anticipating respiratory resistance activates defensive responding, which may mediate symptomatology in patients with panic and other anxiety disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. plang@phhp.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Bethany C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wangelin
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Versace
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Davenport
authors.forename: Vincent D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000523:psychology*; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004576:Electromyography; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D013216:Reflex, Startle; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology; D012449:Safety; D055815:Young Adult