A Dynamic Link between Respiration and Arousal

J Neurosci. 2024 Nov 20;44(47):e1173242024. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1173-24.2024.

Abstract

Viewing brain function through the lens of other physiological processes has critically added to our understanding of human cognition. Further advances though may need a closer look at the interactions between these physiological processes themselves. Here we characterize the interplay of the highly periodic, and metabolically vital respiratory process and fluctuations in arousal neuromodulation, a process classically seen as nonperiodic. In the data from three experiments (N = 56 / 27 / 25 women and men), we tested for covariations in respiratory and pupil size (arousal) dynamics. After substantiating a robust coupling in the largest dataset, we further show that coupling strength decreases during task performance compared with rest and that it mirrors a decreased respiratory rate when participants take deeper breaths. Taken together, these findings suggest a stronger link between respiratory and arousal processes than previously thought. Moreover, these links imply a stronger coupling during periods of rest, and the effect of respiratory rate on the coupling suggests a driving role. As a consequence, studying the role of neuromodulatory arousal on cortical function may also need to consider respiratory influences.

Keywords: LC-NE; brainstem; locus ceruleus; pupil diameter; pupil-linked arousal; respiration.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arousal* / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pupil* / physiology
  • Respiration*
  • Respiratory Rate / physiology
  • Young Adult