Abstract
Background: Cognitive processes mediate judgments of sensation intensity and the perception of breathlessness. These processes depend on focused attention to make a determination, which has not been systematically investigated.
Objective: To examine the effect of attention on the perception of breathlessness given alterations in attentional focus based on the subject's experience with the perception.
Methods: Magnitude estimation techniques with inspiratory airflow resistance were used to examine the influence of variations in attentional focus on the judgments associated with the perception of breathlessness. Two experimental magnitude estimation conditions were used to alter the focus of attention and compare it with traditional techniques as a control condition (CC). The subject's typical breathing pattern (EXP-T) and clearest memory of breathlessness (EXP-M) were used as references in the experimental conditions.
Results: Findings revealed a significant main effect for condition (CC vs. EXP-T: F = 4.82, p < .01; CC vs. EXP-M: F = 14.82, p < .01) and an interaction effect for group by condition (CC vs. EXP-T: F = 4.82, p < .03; CC vs. EXP-M: F = 5.15, p < .03). Post hoc analysis revealed significant differences only for the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) group in both comparisons.
Conclusions: Findings indicate that different focuses of attention based on previous exposure to sensations have an impact on judgments used to determine the intensity of a sensation given similar presentation of stimuli, and thus contribute to alterations in the perception of breathlessness.