Perspectives on periodic breathing in infants

There is considerable controversy about the clinical significance of a pattern of periodic breathing in infants. On the one hand are those who take the view that it is just part of the variation in breathing characteristics of the developing nervous system. On the other side are those who marshall evidence that its presence indicates unstable respiratory control and an increased risk for sudden death or severe apnea. The evidence on both these points is briefly presented. The main thrust of this communication is to emphasize a hitherto neglected perspective on periodic breathing, namely, what can be learned from a detailed observation of periodic breathing as a motor pattern viewed from a naturalistic perspective