Human Dive Reflex

Dive Reflex Introduction

 When mammals dive, they must cope with the

problem of being deprived of an external source of
oxygen.
 Physiological adaptations include constriction of
blood vessels supplying nonessential organs and
redirection of blood to the oxygen-requiring brain
and heart.
 This enables the heart to beat more slowly
(bradycardia) since it is supplying less blood to
much of the body, whilst sustaining adequate
blood pressure to the brain.
 Aims

 To demonstrate that humans experience

bradycardia when simulating a dive.
 To investigate for the signals that stimulate the
Human Dive reflex.
 Organisation
 Students should work in groups of three or
four, and assign tasks as follows:
 Student 1: Experimental Subject.
 Student 2: Time-keeper for each simulated
dive.
 Students 3 & 4: Responsible for recording
events and operating the computer.
 Protocol
 Heart rate will be recorded using Chart software and
a Finger Pulse Transducer attached to the subject’s
index finger.
 The Subject will then immerse their face in a bowl of
cold water whilst holding their breath to simulate a
dive.
 Each “dive” lasts 30 s. Subjects will appreciate being
tapped on the back every 10 s by the timer.
 At the beginning of a test that requires holding the
breath, the Subject should take a deep but not
maximal breath and then hold it. Subjects should not
hyperventilate before holding their breath.
 Suggested Variations

 Breathing in air vs. holding breath in air (Apnoea)

 Breathing in water with snorkel vs. holding breath in
cold water (Apnoea nd Temp.)
 Breathing through snorkel in air vs. breathing through
snorkel in water (Pressure)
 Holding breath in air vs. holding breath in cold water
 Holding breath in warm water vs. holding breath in
cold water
Copyright ©2003 American Physiological Society