RELATION OF HEART RATE TO SLOW WAVES IN THE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM DURING OVERVENTILATION

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Abstract
It is demonstrated that in 1-min. periods of overventilation increase of heart rate tends to be antecedent to or simultaneous with slowing of the electroencephalogram. The relation of cardiac and cerebral effects during hypocapnia suggests a possible vagal mechanism. It suggests that reduction of vagal cholinergic vasodilator impulses at a time when destruction of acetylcholine by cholinesterase is increased by hypocapnia may be critical. Consequent contractions of the cerebral blood vessels may account for association of cardiac acceleration during overventilation with slow waves in the electroencephalogram.