Experimental and clinical findings on the role of the central aminergic mechanisms in the control of respiration are reviewed. Dopamine, histamine, norepinephrine and serotonin inhibit spinal cord and cortical neurons; acetylcholine stimulates these neurons. The importance of these pharmacological effects for the control of respiration is not yet clear. Brain stem dopaminergic and serotonergic mechanisms stimulate respiratory neurons; a brain stem noradrenergic mechanism inhibits these neurons. A cholinergic mechanism is involved in the control of central chemosensitivity, and probably of the respiratory periodicity. Histamine stimulates the brain stem neurons, its effects on respiratory neurons have not yet been investigated.