Introduction: This study aimed to determine the interactions between closely paired swallow induced primary peristalsis and air injection induced secondary peristalsis. Methods: Ten subjects (7M, 18-42yrs) were studied using a catheter including 2 sleeves (UES and LES), a mid esophageal infusion port, 7 esophageal, and 2 pharyngeal recording sites. Ten iterations of primary peristalsis (PP) and secondary peristalsis (SP) were induced by 5 ml water swallows and 20 ml intraesophageal air injections respectively. Thereafter, the interactions between PP and SP separated by 1- 12s intervals were studied in all four possible sequences: paired swallows, swallow preceded by air injection, air injection preceded by swallow and paired air injections. Tracings were analyzed for LES relaxation, presence and integrity of peristalsis, and event interaction. Results: Eight subjects with both success rates of 90% PP and 80% SP were analyzed (primary peristalsis 97±2%, secondary peristalsis 90±3%). During paired PP interactions and SP followed by PP, the first sequence was inhibited by the 2nd with intervals < 4-6s. However, no inhibition of the first peristaltic sequence was found in either PP followed by SP trials or SP followed by air injection. Conclusion: In contrast to swallowing or proximal esophageal distention, air injection into the lumen of the mid esophagus does not inhibit an ongoing peristaltic event. Being that the elicitation of SP in the smooth muscle esophagus is intramurally mediated, this suggests that deglutitive inhibition is a centrally mediated phenomenon rather than an intrinsic property of peristalsis.