Spectral Analysis of Breathing Pattern in Man during Exercise

Abstract

In recent years analysis of the breathing pattern parameters in various conditions was used to study respiratory control in man. The findings of a significant positive correlation between tidal volume and inspiratory time and the weaker positive correlation between inspiratory time and expiratory time, as well, as between tidal volume and expiratory time were described as a result of a mechanism which controls the ventilation in every single breath (Newsom Davis and Staag, 1975). These correlations could be alternatively explained by slow synchroneous oscillations of breathing pattern parameters studied in our laboratory (Siegelova and Kopecný, 1985). The aim of the present study was to follow the slow waves of breathing pattern parameters during exercise and also to evaluate the role of both control mechanisms — a single breath regulatory mechanism and slow oscillations of breathing pattern.