Respiratory Rhythm, Autonomic Modulation, and the Spectrum of Emotions: The Future of Emotion Recognition and Modulation

Abstract

Pulmonary ventilation and respiration are considered to be primarily involved in oxygenation of blood for oxygen delivery to cells throughout the body for metabolic purposes. Other pulmonary physiological observations, such as respiratory sinus arrhythmia, Hering Brewer reflex, cardiorespiratory synchronization, and the heart rate variability (HRV) relationship with breathing rhythm, lack complete explanations of physiological/functional significance. The spectrum of waveforms of breathing activity correlate to anxiety, depression, anger, stress, and other positive and negative emotions. Respiratory pattern has been thought not only to be influenced by emotion but to itself influence emotion in a bi-directional relationship between the body and the mind. In order to show how filling in gaps in understanding could lead to certain future developments in mind-body medicine, biofeedback, and personal health monitoring, we review and discuss empirical work and tracings to express the vital role of bodily rhythms in influencing emotion, autonomic nervous system activity, and even general neural activity. Future developments in measurement and psychophysiological understanding of the pattern of breathing in combination with other parameters such as HRV, cardiorespiratory synchronization, and skin conductivity may allow for biometric monitoring systems to one day accurately predict affective state and even affective disorders such as anxiety. Better affective prediction based on recent research when incorporated into personal health monitoring devices could greatly improve public mental health by providing at-home biofeedback for greater understanding of one's mental state and for mind-body affective treatments such as breathing exercises.

Respiration Based Non-Invasive Approach for Emotion Recognition Using Impulse Radio Ultra Wide Band Radar and Machine Learning

“…The respiration patterns show a high correlation with human emotions, e.g., fast breathing may be caused excitement due to happiness, anger, or anxiety [21]. Happiness and other positive emotions have a substantial impact on respiratory changes [22,23]. The high frequency of heart rate variability is substantially influenced by respiration due to heart rate increase during inspiration and heart rate decrease during expiration, a phenomenon called respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) [24,25].…”

“…Happiness has a variable effect on breathing rate depending on how arousal one is, whilst arousing one increases the respiration rate [26]. Similarly, humans tend to suppress their breaths when having emotions of disgust [22,23]. Research also shows [22,23,27] that humans demonstrate shallower and faster breathing when facing fear.…”

Reading on a smartphone affects sigh generation, brain activity, and comprehension

“…In these studies, a reciprocal relationship between respiration and cognitive function was found. Respiration is affected by cognitive load 13 , 14 or emotion (stress and anxiety) 15 , which alters the depth and rhythm of breathing. Conversely, respiratory patterns affect frontal cortex and hippocampus functions and, consequently, the formation of memories 16 – 18 .…”

Synchronization of the Processes of Autonomic Control of Blood Circulation in Humans Is Different in the Awake State and in Sleep Stages

“…The regulation of the cardiovascular system and respiration is influenced by cortical structures that influence the baroreflex regulation under normal conditions ( Furness, 2006 ; Duschek et al, 2013 ; Jerath and Beveridge, 2020 ) and during the development of pathologies ( Lewis et al, 2006 ; Molkov et al, 2014 ). Considerable attention of researchers is paid to the peculiarities of baroreflex regulation and autonomic control of cardiovascular system during sleep ( Brandenberger et al, 2003 ).…”