Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 16, 2025
Breathing-controlled Electrical Stimulation BreEStim for Management of Neuropathic Pain and Spasticity
Published on: January 10, 2013
Controlled breathing and autonomic rhythms: Influence of auditory versus visual cues
Joshua E Gonzalez1, Stephanie R Jewell1, Steven P Stelly1
1Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States of America.
Abstract:
We compared standard metrics of autonomic control in 20 humans (10 female) during spontaneous and controlled breathing. Subjects controlled breathing at 0.25 Hz following a metronome (auditory) or scrolling waveforms (visual). Respiratory rates and heart rates were lower during spontaneous breathing compared with auditory and visual. One heart rate variability metric was higher during visual compared with spontaneous breathing, but baroreflex sensitivity and muscle sympathetic nerve activity were not affected by breathing cues. A majority of subjects (86%) perceived that breathing to auditory cues was more difficult compared with visual cues, but this elevated perceived stress did not manifest physiologically.
More Related Videos
06:26Author Spotlight: Exploring Breathing Techniques and Digital Solutions for Enhancing Running Performance
Published on: September 27, 2024
08:08Using Wavelet Entropy to Demonstrate how Mindfulness Practice Increases Coordination between Irregular Cerebral and Cardiac Activities
Published on: May 10, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:17Other Factors Affecting Respiration Centers
However, the ability to hold one's breath voluntarily is not limitless. When the CO2 concentration in the blood reaches a critical...
01:22Physiology of Respiration II: Neurogenic Control of Respiration
Central Control
The brainstem is the primary site of central control, hosting respiratory centers:
01:23Physiological Control of Respiration
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...
01:18Neural Control of Respiration
Respiratory Centers in the Brainstem
Two primary areas comprise the respiratory center: the medullary respiratory center in the medulla oblongata and the pontine respiratory group in the pons. The...
01:29Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
01:23Mechanism of Breathing II: Expiration
Expiration, or exhaling, is a complex physiological process that begins as the inspiratory muscles begin to relax. This relaxation triggers a series of events that epitomize the efficiency of the respiratory system.
Mechanism of Expiration: