Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to measure the changes in concentration of cerebral oxy- and deoxygenated haemoglobin ([HbO2] and [Hb]) in six healthy adult volunteers spontaneously breathing against increased expiratory pressures (IEPs) between 0 and 20 cm H2O. During expiration, an increase in [HbO2] was recorded, accompanied by a smaller decrease in [Hb], producing a small increase in total cerebral haemoglobin concentration ([Hbsum]). The mean plus/minus SD change in [Hbsum] at the maximum 1EP of 20 cm H2O was 1.2 +/- 0.7 micromol L-1 (equivalent to 1.4%). Changes in [Hbsum] correlated with IEP level (r = 0.95) and changes in MABP (r = 0.96). The results suggest that homeostatic mechanism do not maintain cerebral blood volume or flow constant over the period of a single breath in normal adults.