Psychophysiology

  • Psychophysiology (2002), 39 : pp 546-567
  • Copyright © 2002 Society for Psychophysiological Research
  • DOI: 10.1017.S0048577202010715 (About DOI)
  • Published online: 20 August 2002

Table of Contents - 2002 - Volume 39, Issue 05  


SPECIAL REPORT
SPECIAL REPORT

Guidelines for mechanical lung function measurements in psychophysiology

THOMAS  RITZ  a1 c1, BERNHARD  DAHME  a2, ARTHUR B.  DUBOIS  a3, HANS  FOLGERING  a4, GREGORY K.  FRITZ  a5, ANDREW  HARVER  a6, HARRY  KOTSES  a7, PAUL M.  LEHRER  a8, CHRISTOPHER  RING  a9, ANDREW  STEPTOE  a10 and KAREL P.  VAN DE WOESTIJNE  a11
a1 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, and the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
a2 Psychological Institute III, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
a3 John B. Pierce Laboratory, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
a4 Department for Pulmonary Diseases, Dekkerswald Medical Center, University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
a5 Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital, Child and Family Psychiatry, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
a6 Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
a7 Psychology Department, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
a8 Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Dentistry–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
a9 School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
a10 Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College of London, London, UK
a11 Dienst Pneumologie, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

Abstract

Studies in psychophysiology and behavioral medicine have uncovered associations among psychological processes, behavior, and lung function. However, methodological issues specific to the measurement of mechanical lung function have rarely been discussed. This report presents an overview of the physiology, techniques, and experimental methods of mechanical lung function measurements relevant to this research context. Techniques to measure lung volumes, airflow, airway resistance, respiratory resistance, and airflow perception are introduced and discussed. Confounding factors such as ventilation, medication, environmental factors, physical activity, and instructional and experimenter effects are outlined, and issues specific to children and clinical groups are discussed. Recommendations are presented to increase the degree of standardization in the research application and publication of mechanical lung function measurements in psychophysiology.

(Received May 16 2001)
(Accepted April 23 2002)


Key Words: Mechanical lung function; Airway resistance; Respiratory resistance; Spirometry; Pneumotachography; Body plethysmography; Forced oscillation technique; Interrupter technique; Respiratory perception.

Correspondence:
c1 Address reprint requests to: Thomas Ritz, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University and VA Palo Alto Health Care System (116F-PAD), 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. E-mail: tritz@stanford.edu.

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