Visualization of respiratory-related neural activity during sleep

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and intrinsic optical imaging provide a means to visualize activity in widely-dispersed brain sites that participate in mediating normal and disordered breathing patterns associated with sleep. Both fMRI and optical imaging studies in man and animals confirm participation of brain regions long-identified with respiratory regulation, as well as regions not classically associated with breathing control, such as cerebellar and limbic sites. Dysfunctions within cerebellar and limbic regions apparently underlie a portion of the pathologic respiratory patterns observed in sleep-disordered breathing, and emphasize the widespread nature of respiratory control.