My research team investigates the afferent and efferent mechanisms involved in the behavioral control of breathing pattern, respiratory defensive reflexes, respiratory response to exercise and the neural mechanisms of respiratory perception. Our research focus is on the physiological mechanisms of central neural behavioral control of respiratory pattern. We investigate the role of pulmonary and respiratory muscle afferents in activating cognitive centers of the brain, behavioral control of breathing pattern and respiratory muscle strengthening rehabilitation of disorders in swallow (dysphagia) and cough (dystussia). Our patient studies have focused on the control of breathing pattern in individuals with neuromuscular disease, spinal injury, stroke and asthma. My research laboratory has also studied the sense of respiratory breathing effort for load compensation in humans and experimental animals. I am also studying high frequency oscillation of the airways of humans and experimental animals which increases the concentration of exhaled molecules and decreases the sense of respiratory breathing effort. My lab is also investigating the effect of respiratory muscle strength training on exercise performance in healthy sedentary individuals and athletes.
