The effects of suggestion on the total respiratory resistance of nonasthmatic female subjects.

Bronchodilation suggestion, bronchoconstriction suggestion, or neutral suggestion was given to thirty nonasthmatic female subjects; the effect of the suggestion on the total respiratory resistance (Rt) of the subjects was examined. Subjects were told either (a) that they would inhale a substance which would make their breathing better, (b) that they would inhale a substance which would make their breathing worse, or (c) that they would inhale a substance which would have no effect on their breathing. In actuality, no subject inhaled any substance. Those subjects who were told that their breathing would worsen exhibited a reliable increase in R1, whereas those subjects who were told that their breathing would become better or that their breathing would not be affected exhibited no reliable change in Rt. This study confirmed earlier work, showing that bronchoconstriction suggestion increases Rt in healthy individuals. Furthermore, this study showed that bronchodilation suggestion alone is not sufficient to produce a decrease in Rt.