Some peculiar changes in the pattern of respiration connected with REM sleep. A preliminary report.

In the course of polygraphic studies of night sleep the authors recorded respiration through the right and left nostrils by means of two thermoelements. They observed a peculiar and unexpected phenomenon: during the REM sleep phase of the 3rd sleep cycle of 4 healthy persons with 6 full night recordings, respiration through the left nostril stopped, whereas it increased both in frequency and amplitude through the right nostril. This type of respiration continued until awakening. In 2 patients with narcolepsy-cataplexy and in 2 others with idiopathic hypersomnia (8 nights recorded) the same phenomenon was observed with the difference that respiration disappeared on the right side and was preserved on the left side. Furthermore, these changes occurred earlier than in healthy persons. The above changes could be explained by congestion of the venous plexi of the nose.