Respiratory-related evoked potential elicited by expiratory occlusion

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) 1999-08, Vol.87 (2), p.835-842
• Main Authors: Hammond, Carol Smith, Gaeta, Helen, Sapienza, Christine, Davenport, Paul W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Airway Obstruction - physiopathology; Anatomy & physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Electroencephalography; Evoked Potentials - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Motor control and motor pathways. Reflexes. Control centers of vegetative functions. Vestibular system and equilibration; Respiration; Respiratory system; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1999.87.2.835

Departments of Physiological Science and Communication Processes and Disorders, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 Respiratory-related evoked potentials (RREPs) have been elicited by inspiratory loads in adults and children. The RREP was recorded over the somatosensory region of the cerebral cortex. It was hypothesized that a RREP could be recorded by using expiratory occlusion. Electroencephalographic activity was recorded in adults from 14 scalp locations, referenced to the linked earlobes. The occlusion was presented as an interruption of expiration. Epochs of electroencephalographic activity and mouth pressure were recorded for each expiratory occlusion presentation. There were two occlusion trials and a control trial of 100 presentations each. The epochs in each trial were averaged and examined for the presence of short-latency, occlusion-related peaks. RREP peaks were observed bilaterally with expiratory occlusion and were absent in control unoccluded averages. A positive peak, P 34 , was observed at central and postcentral sites. A negative peak, N 53 , was observed at frontal and central sites. A second positive peak, P 95 , was observed at frontal and central sites. These results demonstrate that expiratory occlusion elicits a RREP. This suggests that expiratory occlusion-related sensory information activates the cerebral cortex similar to that for inspiratory loads. expiration; evoked potential; expiratory load; cerebral cortex