Timing, Sleep, and Respiration in Health and Disease - Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science - page 191

CHAPTER EIGHT

Timing, Sleep, and Respiration
in Health and Disease

Gordon F. Buchanan * , †
* Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
† Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, West Haven, Connecticut, USA

Contents
1. Introduction 192

2. Normal Breathing 192

2.1 Respiratory pattern generation 193

2.2 Airway control 194

2.3 Modulation of breathing 195

3. Circadian Rhythms and Breathing 198

3.1 Circadian regulation of breathing 198

3.2 Influence of breathing on circadian rhythms 201

4. Sleep and Breathing 203

4.1 State-dependent control of breathing 203

4.2 Influence of breathing on sleep 205

5. Implications for Human Disease 207

5.1 Sleep apnea 207

5.2 Asthma 208

5.3 Epilepsy 208

5.4 Sudden infant death syndrome 208

6. Conclusions 209

References 209

Abstract
Breathing is perhaps the physiological function that is most vital to human survival.
Without breathing and adequate oxygenation of tissues, life ceases. As would be
expected for such a vital function, breathing occurs automatically, without the require-
ment of conscious input. Breathing is subject to regulation by a variety of factors includ-
ing circadian rhythms and vigilance state. Given the need for breathing to occur
continuously with little tolerance for interruption, it is not surprising that breathing is
subject to both circadian phase-dependent and vigilance-state-dependent regulation.
Similarly, the information regarding respiratory state, including bloodgas concentra-
tions, can affect circadian timing and sleep - wake state. The exact nature of the inter-
actions between breathing, circadian phase, and vigilance state can vary depending