Figure 14 - Comparison of response/deflection ratio between young and elderly subjects.

When comparing the response/deflection ratio among the three tested stimulation intensities, responses to air pulses of 6 mmHg pressure with 2-second duration were significantly higher than air pulses of shorter duration in both groups. For both 6 mm Hg/2-second duration and 6 mm Hg/50-msec duration stimuli, the response/deflection ratio in elderly subjects was significantly lower than that in young subjects. The differences for 10 mm Hg/50-msec stimulation did not reach statistical significance. (Source: Kawamura et al.⁹⁶ with permission from American Gastroenterological Association)