Modification of the 'dividing bradycardia' by hypoxia or exercise

The oxygen-conserving efficiency of the physiological adjustments to diving depends on two factors: (1) the rate of onset of reflex action, and (2) the extent to which circulating blood is withdrawn from the organs which are not irreparably damaged by transient hypoxia. We report a study in which either hypoxia or exercise has been imposed as an additional stress on human subjects performing apneic face immersion in order to determine any early changes in the reflex rate of onset and/or the final level of cardiovascular adjustment. It is concluded that the rate of onset of the diving reflex varies with the stresses imposed whereas the final level of adjustment does not.