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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2017; 75(01): 9-14
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20160178
Article

Modulation of the ultradian human nasal cycle by sleep stage and body position

Modulação do ciclo nasal humano ultradiano pelo estágio do sono e a posição corporal
Richard E. Frye
1   University of Pennsylvania, Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Philadelphia, PA, USA
2   University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, Little Rock, AR, USA
,
Deborah F. Rosin
3   John F. Kennedy Medical Center Section of ENT, Department of Surgery, Edison, NJ, USA
,
Adrian R. Morrison
4   University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Biology, Philadelphia, PA USA
,
Fidias E. Leon-Sarmiento
1   University of Pennsylvania, Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Philadelphia, PA, USA
5   Unicolciencias/Universidad Nacional, Mediciencias Research Group, Bogota, Colombia
,
Richard L. Doty
1   University of Pennsylvania, Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Philadelphia, PA, USA
› Author AffiliationsThis research was supported by USAMRAA W81XWH-09-1-0467, and by the Eleanor Dana Center for Sleep Disorders, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
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ABSTRACT

Objective:

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.

Methods:

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.

Results:

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.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates that the lateralization of nasal airflow and sleep stage are related. Some types of asymmetrical somatosensory stimulation can alter this relationship.

RESUMO

Objetivo:

O ciclo nasal é um ritmo ultradiano de lado a lado de ingurgitamento associado com o ciclo da atividade autçnoma. O objetivo deste estudo foi abordar a questão assim como a relação presente entre o ciclo nasal e os estágios de sono REM/não-REM. Também analisamos a confusão potencial da influência da posição corporal no fluxo de ar nasal.

Métodos:

Mensuramos o ciclo nasal em seis sujeitos durante um sono de oito horas usando um termistor nasal. Foi realizada uma polissonografia. Simultaneamente, nós monitoramos a posição corporal usando uma câmera de vídeo juntamente com luzes infravermelhas.

Resultados:

Um fluxo de ar maior ocorreu através da cavidade nasal direita durante as fases de sono REM do que nos períodos de sono não-REM (p < 0,001). Assim como a posição corporal [F(2.2340) = 86,99, p < 0,001] e o estágio de sono [F(1.2340) = 234.82, p < 0,001] influenciaram a lateralização do fluxo de ar nasal.

Conclusões:

Este estudo evidencia que a lateralização do fluxo de ar nasal e o estágio do sono estão relacionados. Alguns tipos de estimulação somatosensitiva assimétrica podem alterar esta relação.

Keywords:

respiratory physiological phenomena - sleep - sleep, REM - activity cicles

Palavras-chave:

fençmenos fisiológicos respiratórios - sono - sono REM - ciclos de atividade

Support:

This research was supported by USAMRAA W81XWH-09-1-0467, and by the Eleanor Dana Center for Sleep Disorders, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.




Publication History

Received: 12 January 2016

Accepted: 24 August 2016

Article published online:
06 September 2023

© 2023. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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