Phasic inhibition as a mechanism for generation of rapid respiratory rhythms

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Abstract
Significance: Humans breathe ∼20,000 times per day and hundreds of millions of times over the average life span. The neural mechanisms which control respiratory rate are poorly understood. Although it was previously thought that the signal to breathe was solely an excitatory command, we show that selective stimulation of putative CO 2 -chemosensitive neurons likely initiates inspiration through inhibition. These results argue that the clock which determines respiratory rate operates in two distinct modes: a first mode which is highly modular and allows for flexibility to adapt to everyday behaviors, and a second mode which is specifically recruited in situations of elevated CO 2 .
Funding Information
  • National Science Foundation (DGE-0951783)
  • HHS | National Institutes of Health (NS074199)
  • HHS | National Institutes of Health (NS025713)

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