Effect of Cold Induced Pain and Mental Task on Breath Holding Time

Abstract

The breath holding time (BHT) is under voluntary control to a considerable extentand is dependent on various factors. Pain interrupts ongoing mental processes andmental task stimulates the respiratory complex as a part of generalised central nervoussystem arousal. We hypothesised that the concurrent cold-induced pain and mentaltask may change BHT. In this study BHT with concurrent mental task (MT) or coldinducedpain (CPT) was assessed in healthy individuals (n=25). The objective was toinvestigate the effect of CPT and MT on BHT. Initially basal BHT was recorded thenthe BHT was recorded during MT and CPT. The data were analysed by Friedmantest. The results showed no significant effect of MT and CPT on BHT. However, BHTshowed an increasing trend with CPT and MT. It is concluded that cold pressor painand mental task do not have vital influence on breath holding time.Key Words: breath holding time, cold pressor test, pain, mental task.