ArticleSleep2013
A mechanism for upper airway stability during slow wave sleep.
Article in Sleep, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Are obstructive sleep apnea and sleep improved in response to multidisciplinary weight loss interventions in youth with obesity? A systematic review and meta-analysis.International journal of obesity (2005) · 2020Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Effects of Tiagabine on Slow Wave Sleep and Arousal Threshold in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea.Sleep · 2017Trial
- The Effect of Donepezil on Arousal Threshold and Apnea-Hypopnea Index. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Cross-Over Study.Annals of the American Thoracic Society · 2016Trial
- Analytical amplitude/phase markers for neurological sleep apnea events.Neurobiology of sleep and circadian rhythms · 2026Article
- Exploring Exercise Interventions for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Scoping Review.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2025Review
- REM-OSA as a Tool to Understand Both the Architecture of Sleep and Pathogenesis of Sleep Apnea-Literature Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Review
- Article
- Sleep Quality: A Narrative Review on Nutrition, Stimulants, and Physical Activity as Important Factors.Nutrients · 2022Review
- Gender differences of clinical and polysomnographic findings with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- Sleep Electroencephalographic Response to Respiratory Events in Patients With Moderate Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2020Article
- Corticoperipheral neuromuscular disconnection in obstructive sleep apnoea.Brain communications · 2020Article
- Inspiratory Muscle Training in the Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Quality and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: A Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Trial.Nature and science of sleep · 2020Article
- Neural memory of the genioglossus muscle during sleep is stage-dependent in healthy subjects and obstructive sleep apnoea patients.The Journal of physiology · 2018Article
- Determinants of Slow-Wave Activity in Overweight and Obese Adults: Roles of Sex, Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Testosterone Levels.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2018Article
- Sleeping tongue: current perspectives of genioglossus control in healthy individuals and patients with obstructive sleep apnea.Nature and science of sleep · 2018Review
- Article
- Mechanisms of the deep, slow-wave, sleep-related increase of upper airway muscle tone in healthy humans.Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · 2017Article
- Neural Control of the Upper Airway: Respiratory and State-Dependent Mechanisms.Comprehensive Physiology · 2016Review
- A comprehensive assessment of genioglossus electromyographic activity in healthy adults.Journal of neurophysiology · 2015Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
STUDY
objectivesThe severity of obstructive sleep apnea is diminished (sometimes markedly) during slow wave sleep (SWS). We sought to understand why SWS stabilizes the upper airway. Increased single motor unit (SMU) activity of the major upper airway dilating muscle (genioglossus) should improve upper airway stability. Therefore, we hypothesized that genioglossus SMUs would increase their activity during SWS in comparison with Stage N2 sleep.
designThe activity of genioglossus SMUs was studied on both sides of the transition between Stage N2 sleep and SWS.
settingSleep laboratory.
participantsTwenty-nine subjects (age 38 ± 13 yr, 17 males) were studied.
interventionSWS. MEASUREMENT AND
resultsSubjects slept overnight with fine-wire electrodes in their genioglossus muscles and with full polysomnographic and end tidal carbon dioxide monitors. Fifteen inspiratory phasic (IP) and 11 inspiratory tonic (IT) units were identified from seven subjects and these units exhibited significantly increased inspiratory discharge frequencies during SWS compared with Stage N2 sleep. The peak discharge frequency of the inspiratory units (IP and IT) was 22.7 ± 4.1 Hz in SWS versus 20.3 ± 4.5 Hz in Stage N2 (P < 0.001). The IP units also fired for a longer duration (expressed as a percentage of inspiratory time) during SWS (104.6 ± 39.5 %TI) versus Stage N2 sleep (82.6 ± 39.5 %TI, P < 0.001). The IT units fired faster during expiration in SWS (14.2 ± 1.8 Hz) versus Stage N2 sleep (12.6 ± 3.1 Hz, P = 0.035). There was minimal recruitment or derecruitment of units between SWS and Stage N2 sleep.
conclusionIncreased genioglossus SMU activity likely makes the airway more stable and resistant to collapse throughout the respiratory cycle during SWS.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.