ИСТИНА

Background and objectives Cultural-Historical Approach and Clinical Psychology of Corporeality (1) suggest viewing the body not exclusively as a natural biological function, but also as a culturally mediated and regulated process similar to higher mental functions. The regulation of breathing is both an autonomous and a voluntary function. The research investigates the continuum between the dysfunction and the hyperfunction of breath regulation and presents psychological factors that support or disrupt the regulation. Materials and methods The study involved 20 patients with hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) as an example of dysfunctional breath regulation, 20 freedivers as a sample of hyper-functional breath regulation, and also 20 healthy participants as the control group. The capability of voluntary respiration regulation was examined through breath holding involving easy-going and struggling phases. Psychological mediation was assessed through: a) respiratory experience interviews, b) anxiety level, c) psychosemantic and projection techniques. Statistical data processing was carried out through descriptive, correlational and variance (ANOVA) analysis. Results The study revealed, that freedivers had a longer total breath holding ability(?) and also a struggling phase, which was perceived by other participants as agonizing. Moreover, freedivers had a lower level of anxiety and a more positive breath vocabulary, which consisted of colloquial and emotional-somatic words. The patients, on the contrary, were unable to hold breath. Their short breath holding correlated with a higher anxiety level, a larger vocabulary of negative breathing experience and the fixation on current unpleasant sensations, described by emotional, but not bodily linked words. Discussion Therefore, freedivers have bigger volume of positive breathing vocabulary and can withstand longer the conflict between the physiological need to inhale and the voluntary motivation to hold their breath. The connection of breathing with negative sensations in patients, who have HVS, leads to less breathing control. Conclusion Psychological mediation of breath may become the goal for psychotherapy within HVS treatment and for improving freedrivers' sport results. 1. Tkhostov A., Psihologiya telesnosti [Psychology of Corporeality], Moscow, Smysl Publ., 2002, 287 p. (in Russian).