Central and peripheral nervous system responses to chronic and paced hyperventilation in anxious and healthy subjects

Hyperventilation-Induced Nystagmus in Acute Unilateral Vestibulopathy: A Correlation with Vestibulo-ocular Reflex Gain and Clinical Implication

“…Hyperventilation is reported to enhance peripheral nerve conduction in healthy subjects, as the decrease in serum CO2 levels leads to an alkalosis with a consequent reduction in the concentration of extracellular Ca 2+ and increased excitability. 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 In AUVP, a myelin lesion would make the inflamed nerve more sensitive to these changes, inducing a greater increase in its conduction, which leads to a prevalence of the affected side and an excitatory type of nystagmus. 4 , 18 A similar mechanism has been reported in cases of acoustic neuroma and multiple sclerosis.…”