INFLUENCE OF END-TIDAL CARBON DIOXIDE TENSION ON EEG CHANGES DURING ROUTINE HYPERVENTILATION IN DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS

In twenty-four patients aged 12-50 years a significant positive association was found between the change in end-tidal pCO2 during 3 min overbreathing and the development of slow activity. There was a significant negative correlation between age and amount of change in the EEG. The fall in pCO2 grew less with increasing age. It is tentatively suggested that in adolescents and adults the apparent influence of age upon EEG responses to overbreathing may be secondary to a decline in ventilatory performance with increasing years. © 1969.