Modulation of the corticospinal control of ventilation by changes in reflex respiratory drive.
We have determined whether changes in PCO(2) above and below eucapnia modulate the precision of the voluntary control of breathing. Twelve trained subjects performed a compensatory tracking task in which they had to maintain the position of a cursor (perturbed by a variable triangular forcing function) on a fixed target by breathing in and out of a spirometer (ventilatory tracking; at 10 l/min). Before each task, subjects hyperventilated for 5 min, and the end-tidal PCO(2) (PET(CO(2))) was controlled; tracking was then performed separately at hypocapnia, eucapnia, and hypercapnia (PET(CO(2)) approximately 25, 37, and 43 Torr, respectively). Ventilatory tracking error was unchanged during hypocapnia (P > 0.05) but was significantly worse during hypercapnia (P < 0.003), compared with eucapnia; arm tracking error, performed as a control, was not significantly affected by PET(CO(2)) (P > 0. 05). In conclusion, ventilatory tracking performance is unaffected by the eucapnic PCO(2). From this, we suggest that resting breathing in awake humans may be independent of chemical drives and of the prevailing PCO(2).
Corfield
D R
DR
National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College School of Medicine, London W6 8RP, United Kingdom. d.corfield@ic.ac.uk
Roberts
C A
CA
Guz
A
A
Murphy
K
K
Adams
L
L
D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006935:Hypercapnia / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D013147:Spirometry
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen