TY - JOUR T1 - Observing dyspnoea in others elicits dyspnoea, negative affect, and brain responses JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.02682-2017 SP - 1702682 AU - Michaela Herzog AU - Josef Sucec AU - Ilse Van Diest AU - Omer Van den Bergh AU - Cecile Chenivesse AU - Paul Davenport AU - Thomas Similowski AU - Andreas von Leupoldt Y1 - 2018/01/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2018/02/01/13993003.02682-2017.abstract N2 - 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 non-dyspnoeic 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 the electroencephalogram) 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.Observing dyspnoea in other persons induces dyspnoea, negative affect, and increased brain responses in the observerFootnotesThis manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJ online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.Conflict of interest: Michaela Herzog has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Josef Sucec has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Van Diest has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Van den Bergh has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Chenivesse has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Davenport has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. SIMILOWSKI reports personal fees from AstraZeneca, personal fees from Boerhinger Ingelheim France, personal fees from GSK, personal fees and non-financial support from Novartis, personal fees from Lungpacer Inc. , personal fees from TEVA, personal fees from Chiesi, personal fees from Pierre Fabre, personal fees from Invacare, outside the submitted work.Conflict of interest: Dr. von Leupoldt reports grants from Research Fund KU Leuven, Belgium , grants from Herculesstichting, Belgium, grants from Flemish Government, Belgium, during the conduct of the study. ER -