The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) involves recurrent sleep-related upper airways (UA) collapse. UA mechanical properties and neural control are altered, imposing a mechanical load on inspiration. UA collapse does not occur during wakefulness, hence arousal-dependent compensation. Experimental inspiratory loading in normal subjects elicits respiratory-related cortical activity during wakefulness. The objective of this study is to test whether awake OSAS patients would exhibit a similar cortical activity. Whether or not such cortical compensatory mechanisms have cognitive consequences would be also analyze.
OSAS patients
severe OSAS with an Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) > 30/h
without CPAP treatment
Non-OSAS patients
pregnant woman according to the positive beta-hCG test result
left-handed following the laterality questionnaire
a current mood episode
a current disorder of the use of psychoactive substances or in the last 6 months (excluding tobacco)