Power Spectrum of the Respiratory System

Spectrum analysis is proposed as a method for analyzing biologic time series data that arise in the study of respiration. A mechanical model of the respiratory system is used to provide a theoretical basis for the interpretation of the air flow spectrum in terms of a physically defined energy concept. We show that under certain conditions the flow variance is proportional to the mechanical work of breathing, and indicate how this new parameter is related to conventional measures of respiratory function. An example is presented to describe the computational procedure and to illustrate the graphical aspects of cross-spectrum analysis.