Seven patients receiving chronic ventilatory support were studied to better define the effects of intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) on the control and timing of spontaneous breathing between mandatory breaths. Each of these patients could sustain adequate spontaneous ventilation, as reflected by stable end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration (FETCO2), and arterial oxygen saturation (SO2) during periods of unassisted ventilation of sufficient duration to allow study. Inspiratory time (TI), respiratory cycle duration (Ttot), tidal volume (VT), and tracheal occlusion pressure (P0.1) were measured as IMV rate was progressively reduced. Respiratory timing was unaltered by decreasing IMV frequency; however, VT increased progressively. The P0.1 and mean inspiratory flow rate (VT/TI) also increased with each decrease in IMV rate, whereas FETCO2 and arterial SO2 remained constant. Thus, in these stable but ventilator-dependent patients, IMV did not alter respiratory timing or chemical stimuli, but it did alter respiratory drive as measured by VT/TI and P0.1.