Drive versus Pressure Contributions to Genioglossus Activity in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Loss of genioglossus activity precipitating events in OSA is strongly associated with a contemporaneous loss of drive, and is greatest in those whose activity tracks drive rather than pressure stimuli. Findings were upheld in events without prior arousal. Responding to falling drive rather than rising negative pressure during events may be deleterious; future therapeutic strategies that seek to sustain genioglossus activity by preferentially enhancing responses to rising pressure rather than falling drive are of interest.