Magnitude Scaling of Externally Added Loads to Breathing1–3

Externally added resistive and elastic loads to breathing elicit a sensation the psychological magnitude of which was described by a power function: psi = k theta n. The perceived magnitude (psi) was related to the physical magnitude (theta) by the exponential term (n). The exponent described the increase in sensation for an increase in load. In normal subjects, the mean exponent for added resistive loads was 0.80 +/- 0.35 SD, and for elastic …