Distribution and course of cortico-respiratory projections for voluntary activation in man

The function and course of the cortico-respiratory projections in man are not yet well established. In 30 normal volunteers respiratory muscles were activated by magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex and the cervical and thoracic spinal roots with bilateral recordings from the respiratory muscles. Following cortical stimulation contralateral responses were obtained in all subjects during voluntary inspiration showing a mean latency and amplitude of 13.4±1.4ms/1.6±1.2 mV (stimulation of the left hemisphere) and 13.2±1.3ms/2.5±2.5 mV (stimulation of the right hemisphere). Ipsilateral responses were obtained in only 18 (right side) and 21 (left side) subjects and had a significantly (p < 0.…