Respiratory physiology & neurobiology
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Respir Physiol Neurobiol · Jan 2014
Analgesic effects of dyspnoea: "Air hunger" does not inhibit the spinal nociception reflex in humans.
Dyspnoea has distinct sensory modalities, including air hunger and the sensation of excessive breathing "work/effort". Both have analgesic properties. In the case of work/effort, spinal mechanisms have been documented (inhibitory effect on the spinal nociceptive flexor reflex, RIII). ⋯ Electromyography of the biceps femoris was used to record the amplitude of RIII in response to painful electrical sural nerve stimulation. Air hunger failed to inhibit the RIII reflex. We conclude that the mechanisms of air hunger induced analgesia do not include a spinal contribution and are therefore mostly central.