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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
07:54
Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
Mechanisms of apnea
1Department of Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08903, USA.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine
|November 1, 1995
Summary
Breathing pattern instabilities during sleep cause frequent arousals. This review examines neural processes in the brainstem that initiate and resolve apneic episodes, contributing to respiratory instability.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Respiratory Physiology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sleep-related breathing instabilities lead to frequent arousals and sleep fragmentation.
- Underlying mechanisms involve neural processes controlling respiratory output periodicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent publications on central brainstem processes involved in apneic episodes.
- To identify neural mechanisms promoting respiratory instability during sleep.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent publications.
- Focus on central brainstem neural processes.
- Analysis of factors contributing to respiratory instability.
Main Results:
- Neural processes initiating and resolving apneic episodes are key.
- Spontaneous oscillations, chemical control instability, effector gain differences, state-dependent instabilities, and loss of stabilization contribute.
- Central brainstem mechanisms are critical for respiratory instability.
Conclusions:
- Understanding neural control of breathing is crucial for sleep disorders.
- Brainstem processes significantly influence respiratory stability and instability.
- Further research into these neural mechanisms can inform therapeutic strategies.
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