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Attentional modulation of reflex cough.
Thomas Janssens1, Mitchell Silva2, Paul W Davenport3
1Health Psychology Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Chest
|February 22, 2014
Summary
Focusing attention inward increases cough frequency and urge, suggesting internal focus may contribute to chronic cough. External focus may help manage excessive coughing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Reflex cough is a protective airway reflex originating in the brainstem.
- Evidence suggests central neural processes, including attention, can modulate reflex cough.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if attentional focus on external or internal stimuli affects reflex cough.
- To determine the role of attentional modulation in cough control.
Main Methods:
- Healthy volunteers (N=24) underwent citric acid-induced cough challenges.
- Participants alternated between external attention (counting tones) and internal attention (counting coughs).
- Cough frequency and urge to cough were measured under both attentional conditions.
Main Results:
- Cough frequency was significantly higher during internal attention compared to external attention.
- The urge to cough was also greater with internal focus, though this effect diminished over time.
- Attentional focus demonstrably modulates airway reflex cough.
Conclusions:
- Attentional focus significantly influences reflex cough.
- Internal attentional focus may be a factor in the development of excessive or idiopathic cough.
- External attentional focus could be a therapeutic strategy for managing cough hypersensitivity.
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