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Whereas sighing appears to function as a physiological resetter, the psychological function of sighing is largely unknown. Sighing has been suggested to occur both during stress and negative emotions, such as panic and pain, and during positive emotions, such as relaxation and relief. In three experiments, sigh rate was investigated during short imposed states of stress and relief. Stress was induced by exposure to a loud noise stressor or by anticipation of it. Relief was induced by the end of the stressor or the anticipation that no stressor would follow. Breathing parameters were recorded continuously by means of the LifeShirt System. Results consistently showed that more sighing occurred during conditions of relief compared to conditions of stress.

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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.