Respiration, Stress, and Cardiovascular Function

The significance of respiratory influences upon cardiovascular functioning has been much neglected in the psychophysiological literature. Various phasic and nonphasic respiratory parameters manifest marked and specific effects upon numerous cardiac and circulatory events. Ventilatory patterns associated with stress responses, furthermore, bring about cardiovascular alterations indicative of dysfunction and risk, even when these ventilatory patterns are voluntarily enacted by normal individuals under nonstressful circumstances. Evidence is presented which suggests that respiratory processes may contribute significantly to cardiovascular competence and dysfunction. The implications of this theoretical approach for psychophysiological research are also discussed.