Steady-state response of normal subjects to an inspiratory sinusoidal pressure load

Inspiratory duration (TI) increases during inspiratory resistive loading in conscious humans. To ascertain whether this response is related to the temporal pattern of pressure perturbation (reaching a peak in early or midinspiration and declining subsequently) we compared the response of nine normal subjects to a usual resistor (narrow tube, RES) with their response when mouth pressure was reduced in a sinusoidal fashion during inspiration (SIN). Whereas the negative pressure pattern was similar with both loads (peak negative pressure near midinspiration), there was no relation between pressure and flow in the case of sinusoidal loading. Each experiment consisted of two loading periods, 4 min each, and three unloaded periods, also 4 min each, bracketing the periods of loading. The order of RES and SIN was randomized. TI during loading was compared with the average TI of the preceding and following unloaded periods. TI increased 0.74 +/- 0.12 and 0.27 +/- 0.05 (SE) s during RES and SIN, respectively (P less than 0.01). We conclude that the temporal pattern of pressure change during resistance breathing plays a small role in mediating the TI prolongation. Coupling between flow and the pressure perturbation appears to be an important determinant of TI prolongation.