The Relationship Between the Nasal Cycle and Axillary Sweat Production

Mean inspiratory nasal resistances and mean axillary sweating rates were recorded bilaterally every 30 minutes for a 5-7 hour period in seven subjects. One subject performed the experiment twice. Nasal resistance was measured using either anterior (n = 5) or posterior (n = 2) rhinomanometry and sweating rate was determined using a filter paper technique. The results for seven of the experiments showed that both nasal resistance and axillary sweating rate exhibited periodic reversals in side dominance. The cyclic patterns for nasal resistance and sweating rate were synchronized in phase in two experiments and 180 degrees out of phase in five experiments. These results support the concept of a central governing cycle with peripheral expression effected by the autonomic nervous system.