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Why do you sigh? Sigh rate during induced stress and relief
Author(s) -
Vlemincx Elke,
Van Diest Ilse,
De Peuter Steven,
Bresseleers Johan,
Bogaerts Katleen,
Fannes Stien,
Li Wan,
Van Den Bergh Omer
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2009.00842.x
Subject(s) - anticipation (artificial intelligence) , psychology , stressor , panic , relaxation (psychology) , breathing , fight or flight response , audiology , anxiety , clinical psychology , social psychology , psychiatry , medicine , chemistry , biochemistry , artificial intelligence , computer science , gene
Whereas sighing appears to function as a physiological resetter, the psychological function of sighing is largely unknown. Sighing has been suggested to occur both during stress and negative emotions, such as panic and pain, and during positive emotions, such as relaxation and relief. In three experiments, sigh rate was investigated during short imposed states of stress and relief. Stress was induced by exposure to a loud noise stressor or by anticipation of it. Relief was induced by the end of the stressor or the anticipation that no stressor would follow. Breathing parameters were recorded continuously by means of the LifeShirt System. Results consistently showed that more sighing occurred during conditions of relief compared to conditions of stress.