The effect of the heart rhythm on a shift in the respiratory phases in cats

: The probabilities of inspiratory on- and off-switches during the ECG's R-R interval were studied in 27 anesthetized cats. The tops of the high-probability peaks were located in the middle or in the second half of the R-R interval for the inspiratory off-switches. The effect of heart rate on the respiratory rhythm seems to be transmitted through the inspiratory off-switch mechanism. The high-probability peaks of inspiratory on-switches are subsequent to the inspiratory off-switch peaks.