Electromyographic activity of the respiratory muscles in hyperbaric conditions

Divers are known to have difficulty breathing in conditions of increased respiratory gas density. This report presents results obtained from electromyographic studies of the inspiratory muscles in conditions imitating a pressure chamber using neon and helium. Electromyographic investigations of the respiratory muscles allows the roles of these muscles in the respiratory act to be assessed and the present study is an attempt to demonstrate the possible neurophysiological mechanisms of respiratory difficulty in high-pressure conditions.