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Adaptation of ventilation to ‘buffeting’ in vehicles

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An Erratum to this article was published on 13 October 2008

Abstract

Objectives

Short exposures to buffeting in a vehicle driving over rough terrain induce an increase in the frequency of respiration resulting in hyperpnoea and hypocapnia. The present study investigates the adaptation to buffeting-induced hyperpnoea.

Methods

We monitored ventilation and cardiovascular function in nine healthy young adults prior to, throughout and post a 30 minute simulation of buffeting.

Results

All subjects had a consistent elevation of respiratory frequency throughout motion. End-tidal CO2 decreased during the first 5 minutes of buffeting due to a transient increase in minute ventilation. Elevation of respiratory frequency was facilitated by shortening of inspiration without change in expiratory time. Tidal volume was maintained which resulted in an increase in mean inspiratory flow during buffeting. At later stages of motion there was a partial return to normal for mean inspiratory flow, minute ventilation and end-tidal CO2 because of a slight reduction in tidal volume whilst inspiratory time remained shortened. Salivary cortisol levels were unaffected by motion, suggesting that the hyperpnoea was not secondary to non-specific stress.

Interpretation

The cause of elevated respiratory frequency during buffeting could be due to mechanical action on the torso, vestibular-respiratory drive or a protective reinforcement of the torso.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Medical Research Council of the UK Grant GO600183 and The University of Westminster Psychology Research Committee.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neuroscience and Psychological Medicine, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Hospital Campus, London, W6 8RF, UK

    David Andrew Green, John Foster Golding, Aulukh Mandip, Mary Catherine Faldon, Adolfo Miguel Bronstein & Michael Andrew Gresty (Prof.)

  2. Division of Applied Biomedical Research, Dept. of Physiology, King’s College, London, UK

    David Andrew Green

  3. Dept. of Psychology, University of Westminster, London, UK

    John Foster Golding

  4. Dept. of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK

    Kevin Graeme Murphy

Authors
  1. David Andrew Green
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  2. John Foster Golding
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  3. Aulukh Mandip
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  4. Mary Catherine Faldon
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  5. Kevin Graeme Murphy
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  6. Adolfo Miguel Bronstein
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  7. Michael Andrew Gresty
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Andrew Gresty.

Additional information

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10286-008-0505-9.

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Green, D.A., Golding, J.F., Mandip, A. et al. Adaptation of ventilation to ‘buffeting’ in vehicles. Clin Auton Res 18, 346–351 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-008-0491-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-008-0491-y

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