Phil Matthews’ latest research, available online in The American Naturalist, proposes a new Neural Hypothesis for discontinuous gas exchange in insects.  This hypothesis suggests that discontinuous gas exchange results from the thoracic and abdominal ganglia regulating ventilation in the absence of control from higher neural centers, and it is indicative of a sleeplike state.

Matthews, P.G.D. and White, C.R. (In press) Discontinuous gas exchange in insects: Is it all in their heads? American Naturalist.