Abstract
Dyspnoea is usually caused by diagnosable cardiorespiratory mechanisms. However, frequently dyspnoea relates only weakly or not at all to cardiorespiratory functioning, suggesting that additional neuropsychosocial processes contribute to its experience. We tested whether the mere observation of dyspnoea in others constitutes such a process and would elicit dyspnoea, negative affect and increased brain responses in the observer.
In three studies, series of pictures and videos were presented, which either depicted persons suffering from dyspnoea or nondyspnoeic control stimuli. Self-reports of dyspnoea and affective state were obtained in all studies. Additionally, respiratory variables and brain responses during picture viewing (late positive potentials in electroencephalograms) were measured in one study.
In all studies, dyspnoea-related pictures and videos elicited mild-to-moderate dyspnoea and increased negative affect compared to control stimuli. This was paralleled by increased late positive potentials for dyspnoea-related pictures while respiratory variables did not change. Moreover, increased dyspnoea correlated modestly with higher levels of empathy in observers.
The present results demonstrate that observing dyspnoea in others elicits mild-to-moderate dyspnoea, negative affect, and increased brain responses in the absence of respiratory changes. This vicarious dyspnoea has clinical relevance, as it might increase suffering in the family and medical caregivers of dyspnoeic patients.
Abstract
Observing dyspnoea in other persons induces dyspnoea, negative affect and increased brain responses in the observer http://ow.ly/K9jD30i9Whs
Footnotes
Author contributions: A. von Leupoldt, P. Davenport, C. Chenivesse, T. Similowski, O. Van den Bergh, I. Van Diest, J. Sucec and M. Herzog conceptualised the research design and research protocol. M. Herzog, J. Sucec, P. Davenport, C. Chenivesse, T. Similowski and A. von Leupoldt were involved in making and collecting the stimuli material. J. Sucec, M. Herzog and A. von Leupoldt searched the literature. M. Herzog and J. Sucec were responsible for the data collection. M. Herzog, J. Sucec and A. von Leupoldt were responsible for the statistical analysis. M. Herzog, J. Sucec and A. von Leupoldt had access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data as well as the data analysis. M. Herzog and J. Sucec created the figures. J. Sucec, M. Herzog and A. von Leupoldt wrote the manuscript. J. Sucec, M. Herzog, A. von Leupoldt, I. Van Diest, O. Van den Bergh, T. Similowski, C. Chenivesse and P. Davenport provided feedback on the protocol, interpretation of the study results, and on the manuscript. M. Herzog and J. Sucec contributed equally to this work. All authors read and approved the final version.
Conflict of interest: T. Similowski reports personal fees from AstraZeneca, Boerhinger Ingelheim France, GSK, Lungpacer Inc., TEVA, Chiesi, Pierre Fabre and Invacare, and personal fees and non-financial support from Novartis, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: A. von Leupoldt received research grants STRT/13/002 and DBOF/14/021 from Research Fund KU Leuven, Belgium, research infrastructure grant AKUL/13/07 from Herculesstichting, Belgium, and long-term structural research funding Methusalem grant METH/15/011 from the Flemish Government, Belgium, during the conduct of the study.
Support statement: This study was supported by grants from the Research Fund KU Leuven, Belgium (STRT/13/002 and DBOF/14/021), by an infrastructure grant from the Herculesstichting, Belgium (AKUL/13/07), by the “Asthenes” long-term structural funding Methusalem grant (METH/15/011) by the Flemish Government, Belgium, and by the Investissement d'Avenir (ANR-10-AIHU 06) by the French Government, France. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation or writing of the manuscript. M. Herzog, J. Sucec and A. von Leupoldt had full access to all data. All authors had the final responsibility for the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Funding information for this article has been deposited with the Crossref Funder Registry.
- Received November 20, 2017.
- Accepted January 29, 2018.
- Copyright ©ERS 2018