★Associate professor Fujii, professor Ono, and junior assistant professor Yoshimura articles were published in The Journal of physiology
Associate professor Fujii, professor Ono, and junior assistant professor Yoshimura articles were published in The Journal of physiology.
Eye movements are precisely controlled by the brain to acquire accurate and stable visual information, and their dynamics are widely used as neurophysiological biomarkers that reflect brain function. Hyperventilation, on the other hand, can be induced by environmental or psychological stress as well as chronic disease conditions, and is known to reduce arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (hypocapnia) and cerebral blood flow. However, the effects of these hyperventilation-induced physiological changes on oculomotor control in humans have not been fully investigated.
In the present study, we examined the effects of hyperventilation-induced reductions in arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure on eye movements at rest in healthy young adults. Hyperventilation markedly decreased end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure, an index of arterial carbon dioxide levels, which was accompanied by a significant reduction in cerebral blood flow. In addition, visual exploratory behavior was attenuated during a free-viewing task in which participants freely observed static images. During an anti-saccade task, which required participants to shift their gaze as quickly as possible in the direction opposite to a presented target, anti-saccade latency was significantly prolonged.
These findings demonstrate that hyperventilation-induced hypocapnia and the associated reduction in cerebral blood flow attenuate visual fixation and saccadic control, thereby impairing oculomotor function. Our results provide new insight into the mechanisms underlying declines in visual cognitive and executive function under conditions associated with stress or abnormal breathing, and suggest that eye movement measurements may serve as a useful indicator of changes in respiratory and cerebrovascular status.
【題 名】How breathing disrupts vision: hyperventilation-induced hypocapnia impairs oculomotor responses in resting humans
【著者名】Yoshimura, Y., Sagawa, T., Ono, S., Nishiyasu, T., & Fujii, N
【掲載誌】The Journal of Physiology
【公開日】2026年2月4日
【DOI】 https://doi.org/10.1113/JP289870
