Related Experiment Videos
Occlusion pressure and ventilation during sleep in normal humans
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|October 1, 1986
Summary
Sleep reduces ventilation and responses to chemical stimuli. This study in humans suggests multifactorial causes, not just decreased central respiratory drive, especially during non-rapid-eye-movement sleep.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Physiology
- Sleep Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Ventilation and ventilatory responses to chemical stimuli are reduced during sleep in humans.
- This reduction is often attributed to decreased central nervous system sensitivity.
- However, other factors like increased airflow resistance may also contribute.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms underlying reduced ventilation during sleep.
- To differentiate the roles of central respiratory drive and other factors.
- To compare respiratory responses during wakefulness, NREM, and REM sleep.
Main Methods:
- Measured ventilation and occlusion pressures (P0.1) during unstimulated breathing and hypercapnia.
- Studied subjects during wakefulness, non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep, and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep.
- Included 18 subjects (10 males, 8 females), with 7 habitual snorers.
Main Results:
- Ventilation decreased during both NREM and REM sleep, more so in snorers.
- Unstimulated P0.1 increased during sleep, particularly in males and snorers.
- Hypercapnic ventilatory response decreased in both NREM and REM sleep, with a greater reduction in REM.
- P0.1 response to hypercapnia was maintained during NREM but reduced during REM sleep.
Conclusions:
- The reduction in ventilation and hypercapnic ventilatory response during sleep is multifactorial.
- Decreased central respiratory drive is not the sole cause, especially during NREM sleep.
- Factors beyond central drive contribute significantly to respiratory changes during sleep.