Overbreathing and Performance
Oxygen concentration and glucose supply in the brain can be reduced by 50% through
decreased blood flow as a result of CO2 loss. This dramatic shift in chemistry can result in the following kinds of performance problems:
Cognitive deficits: attention, memory, thinking, problem solving, concentrating, multitasking, and judgment.
Consider, for example, the impact on attention deficit disorder (ADD) in
children and adults.
Emotional reactions: anger, anxiety, phobia, fear, apprehension, panic, stress, and depression.
Overbreathing triggers emotion, e.g., anger in a challenging discussion with a
significant other.
Personality changes: self-esteem, defensiveness, withdrawal, and type-A behaviour.
Overbreathing leads to state shifting, to dissociative shifts much like the effects of a drug, where defensive personality patterns may emerge.
| Consciousness shifts: dizziness, feelings of unreality, confusion, fuzziness, disorientation, and disconnection. Consider, for example, the impact of these effects on listening skills.
Interpersonal skills: communication, public speaking, romantic encounters, social ease, openness, and presence. Consider, for example, the impact of emotional reactivity and attention deficit on public speaking. Perceptual-motor skills: coordination, physical precision, fine motor skills, and balance.
Consider the impact of these effects on precision behaviour along with emotional and cognitive effects in piloting an aircraft
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