Figure 4. Breath-by-breath mean (± s.e.m.) peak GGEMG (top panel,% of swallow) and TPEMG (bottom panel,% of swallow) in OSA patients, younger and older controls during basal breathing and nasal CPAP across the α–θ transition.

Data are shown from breath −5 to +5 with the transition marked by the vertical dotted line. GGEMG was highest in the OSA patients and remained higher after the transition. Muscle activity was reduced more by the application of nasal CPAP in the OSA patients. The recruitment of GGEMG seen in the BB condition did not occur while on nasal CPAP. • OSA; ▪, young; ▵, older.