title: Modulation of the ultradian human nasal cycle by sleep stage and body position.
abstract: The nasal cycle, which is present in a significant number of people, is an ultradian side-to-side rhythm of nasal engorgement associated with cyclic autonomic activity. We studied the nasal cycle during REM/non-REM sleep stages and examined the potentially confounding influence of body position on lateralized nasal airflow.
  Left- and right-side nasal airflow was measured in six subjects during an eight-hour sleep period using nasal thermistors. Polysomnography was performed. Simultaneously, body positions were monitored using a video camera in conjunction with infrared lighting.
  Significantly greater airflow occurred through the right nasal chamber (relative to the left) during periods of REM sleep than during periods of non-REM sleep (p<0.001). Both body position (p < 0.001) and sleep stage (p < 0.001) influenced nasal airflow lateralization.
  This study demonstrates that the lateralization of nasal airflow and sleep stage are related. Some types of asymmetrical somatosensory stimulation can alter this relationship.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Philadelphia, PA, USA.|University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Frye
authors.affiliation: John F. Kennedy Medical Center Section of ENT, Department of Surgery, Edison, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Rosin
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Biology, Philadelphia, PA USA.
authors.forename: Adrian R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Philadelphia, PA, USA.|Unicolciencias/Universidad Nacional, Mediciencias Research Group, Bogota, Colombia.
authors.forename: Fidias E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Leon-Sarmiento
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Doty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000502:physiology*; D017286:Polysomnography; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology*; D000071218:Ultradian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*