|
CapnoLearning®
is about learning breathing behaviors that facilitate optimal respiration and
its associated regulation of acid-base physiology. CapnoLearning involves the use of a
capnometer (or capnograph) which provides real-time information about carbon
dioxide (CO2) retention in the alveoli of the lungs for evaluating
learned breathing behaviors that serve respiratory chemistry. Clients discover how they have learned to
breathe, how their breathing affects them, and how to effectively
self-regulate breathing behavior based on learning rather than prescriptive
exercise. CapnoLearning includes the
application of principles of phenomenological exploration, behavioral
analysis, behavior modification, biofeedback, awareness training, and
cognitive learning. Few people, lay or professional, know that (1) breathing directly
regulates body chemistry, including pH, electrolyte balance, blood flow,
hemoglobin chemistry, and kidney function, and that (2) breathing is a
behavior subject to the same principles of learning as any other behavior,
including the role of motivation, reinforcement, emotion, attention,
perception, and memory. Bringing
together these two simple facts means integrating the biological and
behavioral sciences in profoundly practical ways relevant to the lives of
millions who have unwittingly learned breathing behaviors that compromise
respiration and acid-base balance. Breathing is behavior, and as a behavior it serves multiple
objectives. Although, respiration is obviously and unquestionably the
fundamental objective, breathing is required for talking, for singing, and
for coughing. It is indicated in
relaxation, yoga, and meditation. It
is utilized as defensive behavior for triggering emotions (e.g., anger), for
dissociating from trauma, for reducing fear (avoidance learning), and for
achieving secondary gain (operant learning).
None of these considerations, however, may necessarily be associated
with healthy respiratory chemistry, and unfortunately, quite often to the
contrary. CapnoLearning is about
learning breathing behavior that serves respiratory physiology and its
associated acid-base regulation, that is, respiratory fitness. Litchfield, Peter M. (2010).
CapnoLearning: respiratory fitness and acid-base regulation. Psychophysiology
Today (2010); 7 (1). Click
here for a PDF copy. Litchfield, P. M. (2005).
CapnoBreathing Training. California Biofeedback (2005); 21 (3). Click
here for a PDF copy. Copyrighted by Behavioral Physiology
Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico USA |