Song of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) is a complex temporal sequence generated by a drastic change to the regular oscillations of the normal respiratory pattern. It is not known how respiratory functions, such as supply of air volume and gas exchange, are controlled during song. To understand the integration between respiration and song, we manipulated respiration during song by injecti...

The substitution of helium for nitrogen in the inspired air has been advocated for two entirely different reasons. First, Sayers and Yant (1926) suggested that owing to the low solubility of helium its use in diving and other operations involving respiration under high pressure might reduce the incidence of caisson disease. Secondly, Barach (1934) suggested that the lesser mass of the helium mo...