Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026

Acquisition and Semi-Automated Analysis of Respiratory Muscle Surface Electromyography
Published on: January 24, 2025
[Neural respiratory drive and nocturnal hypoventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]
Jing Xu1, Hong Yuan, Ying-xin Wu
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
Objective:
To explore the effects of neural respiratory drive on ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during sleep.
Methods:
Diaphragm electromyogram (EMG) from a multipair esophageal electrodes and airflow derived from pneumotachography were recorded during overnight polysomnography in 13 patients with stable COPD recruited from outpatient clinic of First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College from May 2010 to May 2011. Changes in diaphragm EMG and ventilation during wakefulness and different sleep stages were observed.
Results:
Diaphragm EMG decreased by 26% in non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) stage and 39% in rapid eye movement (REM) as compared with wakefulness. Coinciding with change in diaphragm EMG, ventilation (VE) (ml×min(-1)×kg(-1)) significantly decreased from wakefulness (156 ± 53) ml×min(-1)×kg(-1) to steady NREM stage (112 ± 35) ml×min(-1)×kg(-1) (P < 0.05) and further decreased from NREM stage to REM stage (95 ± 27) ml×min(-1)×kg(-1) (P < 0.05). Oxygen saturation also decreased significantly from 97.1% ± 1.8% in wakefulness to REM stage (94.0% ± 3.9%) (P < 0.01).
Conclusion:
Reduced neural respiratory drive contributes to nocturnal hypoventilation in COPD patients.
More Related Videos
05:28Electrophysiology on Isolated Brainstem-spinal Cord Preparations from Newborn Rodents Allows Neural Respiratory Network Output Recording
Published on: November 19, 2015
11:34Breathing-controlled Electrical Stimulation (BreEStim) for Management of Neuropathic Pain and Spasticity
Published on: January 10, 2013
Related Concept Videos
Physiology of Respiration II: Neurogenic Control of Respiration
Central Control
The brainstem is the primary site of central control, hosting respiratory centers:
Physiological Control of Respiration
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...
Neural Control of Respiration
Respiratory Centers in the Brainstem
Two primary areas comprise the respiratory center: the medullary respiratory center in the medulla oblongata and the pontine respiratory group in the pons. The...
Alterations in Respiration II
In Biot's breathing, the respiratory rate and depth are irregular, alternating between periods of deep gasping and apnea. Common causes include...
Hyperpnea and Hyperventilation
Acute Respiratory Failure-III