Erotic asphyxiation or
breath control play is the intentional restriction of
oxygen to the brain for the purposes of
sexual arousal. This sexual practice is variously called
asphyxiophilia,
autoerotic asphyxia,
hypoxyphilia. The term
autoerotic asphyxiation is used when the act is done by a person to themselves. Colloquially, a person engaging in the activity is sometimes called a
gasper. The erotic interest in asphyxiation is classified as a
paraphilia in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the
American Psychiatric Association.