Personality and Respiratory Responses to Sound and Light

Abstract

Respiratory amplitude (RA) and respiratory rate (RR) parameters were examined in student subjects (Ss) following stimulation with five intensities of sound and five intensities of light. All Ss completed the MMPI and were then divided into high and low ego strength (Es) groups on the basis of their scores on the Barron scale. These groups were balanced for alertness‐drowsiness by EEG criteria. High Es Ss responded with a greater increase in RA than low Es Ss and there was a strong trend for high Es Ss to respond less than low Es Ss in RR. Both RA and RR increased following stimulation with the greatest changes following greater intensities of stimulation in both modalities. Light induced a greater increase in RA and RR than sound.

Effects of stimulus position in the respiratory cycle on the evoked cardiac response

“…However, there was some evidence of a decrease in the duration of the respiratory cycle following the presentation of the first two stimuli in the inspiration group. A similar increase in respiration rate has been previously reported by McCallum, Burch, and Roessler (1969), Porges andRaskin (1969), andSteinschneider (1968). In contrast, Barry (1977) has argued that a decrease in respiration rate follows brief simple auditory stimuli.…”

Carbon Dioxide Sensitivity and Personality

“…Using more modern respiratory measurements, including end tidal CO 2 , Dudley et al (6)(7)(8) have shown respiratory hypofunction during both naturally occurring and hypnotically induced states of depression; hyperfunction occurred in states of anger and anxiety. McCollom et al (21) have reported a decreased respiratory response to sound in subjects with lower scores on Barron's Ego Strength scale.…”

Failure to find evidence of the unitary OR concept with indifferent low-intensity auditory stimuli

“…On the other hand, Smith and Strawbridge (1969) found a mean increase in both rate and amplitude following moderate-intensity stimulation. Porges and Raskin (1969) Burch, and Roessler (1969) found that both respiratory rate and amplitude (taken from four poststimulus cycles) showed an increase following visual and auditory stimulation, although this effect failed to reach significance for auditory stimulation. These changes increased directly with stimulus intensity.…”