RESPIRATORY PLATEAUX IN "DAY-DREAMING" AND IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

A change in respiration herein termed "respiratory plateaux" has been noted in states of "day-dreaming" in normals and a similar tendency has been observed in schizophrenic patients. These periods of apnea appear to be more striking and more frequent in the latter. It is obviously difficult to be certain that experimental subjects are actually day-dreaming. Nevertheless certain individuals when instructed to day-dream manifested breathing characterized by recurrent periods of apnea. Periods of apnea or "respiratory plateaux" were relatively numerous among schizophrenic patients. Several college students with pronounced "respiratory plateaux" exhibited evidence of maladjustment. The findings are to be regarded as preliminary until repeated with a larger series of cases.