Affective modulation of inspiratory motor drive

The present study aimed to explore inspiratory motor drive as measured by inspiratory occlusion pressure (P100) during affective picture viewing. P100 is the decrease in mouth pressure that develops 100 ms after an inspiratory effort against a closed breathing circuit. The P100 is a measure of the "central respiratory drive." Seventy-eight healthy women viewed four pictures series (160 s) varying in content: neutral, positive, threat, or pain. They also rated each picture series on pleasantness and arousal. An occlusion was applied at the onset of inspiration in 33% of the breaths. The threat and the pain picture series were associated with an increased P100 and were rated as most unpleasant and highest in arousal. We conclude that inspiratory motor drive is affectively modulated and is a measure of the respiratory response to threatful stimuli.