How brain circuits make you sigh, cough, and breathe differently
Dissecting neural circuits for breathing patterns
Researchers are mapping specific brain cells that drive sighing, coughing, and other breathing patterns to help people with sleep apnea, chronic cough, panic attacks, and post-COVID breathing problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11175420 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, scientists are looking inside a brainstem area called the nucleus of the solitary tract to find the exact nerve cells that create different breathing patterns like sighs and coughs. They use gene markers, connectivity mapping, and recordings of neural activity in lab models to see how body signals change breathing. The team already found two distinct groups of neurons with different genes, wiring, and activity, and will test how turning those cells on or off affects breathing patterns. The goal is to translate this knowledge into targets for treatments that correct abnormal breathing responses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with disorders that alter breathing patterns—such as sleep apnea, unexplained chronic cough, panic disorder, or long COVID breathing complaints—are most likely to be connected to this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose breathing problems are caused primarily by fixed structural lung damage or advanced heart disease are unlikely to benefit directly from these neural-circuit findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments for sleep apnea, chronic cough, panic-related breathing problems, and lingering breathing issues after COVID-19.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have begun to map breathing circuits and the team has preliminary findings, but the specific neurons controlling sighing versus coughing remain a relatively new and exploratory area.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Peng — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Li, Peng
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.