Changes in frequency content of inspiratory neuron and nerve activities in the course of inspiration

Abstract

In decerebrate paralyzed cats, the spectra and coherences of inspiratory (I) nerve activities and of medullary I neuron discharges were compared between different stages of I. The correlated high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) in the activities had common time courses of frequency and strength, which were influenced by lung afferent input; whereas the time courses for the uncorrelated medium-frequency oscillations (MFOs) depended on individual activity patterns. These results indicate that HFOs are characteristic of the common I pattern generator, whereas MFOs are specific to individual activities.