PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SCIENCES

301 Respiratory Psychophysiology (1 credit unit)

Breathing is behavioral and respiration is reflexive. Breathing behavior is subject to the basic principles of learning that govern self-regulation, including motivation, attention, memory, emotion, and cognition. Behavioral breathing science is about the role of these principles in the acquisition of breathing habit patterns and their effects on health and performance, that is, the practical integration of respiratory physiology with breathing psychology. This course will provide an overview of the relevant sciences, as follows: physiology – acid-base regulation (the chemical axis of breathing), aligning breathing mechanics with respiratory chemistry, breathing muscle physiology, breathing neurophysiology, breathing kidney physiology, blood gases and red blood cell chemistry (Bohr Effect), and effects of hypocapnia on physiology, health, and performance;  behavioral physiology – basic principles of physiological learning (programming, reconfiguration), the anatomy of habits, breathing habit analysis, vicious circle breathing behavior, breathing behavior modification, role of cognition and emotion in breathing, interviewing about breathing, behavioral counseling, awareness training, and technology including educational capnography and other measurement technology.