Other theories

 

 

 

 

 

Other postulated theories include:

 

Sense of effort

 

The cortex produces motor outflow to the respiratory muscles but a copy of this signal is relayed to the respiratory centre in the brainstem via the corollary discharge to produce a sense of effort. A comparison is made between the pressure generated by the respiratory muscles and the maximum pressure the muscles are capable of producing. Dyspnoea occurs when respiratory muscles recieve increased stimulation from the cortex producing lung pressure that is close to the maximum capacity.