Recent studies have suggested that the respiratory central pattern generator (RCPG) can solve complex dynamic optimization problems in regulating the respiratory motor output in response to phasic chemo- or mechano-afferent inputs. Such optimization behavior is reminiscent of operant conditioning, an innate animal behavior where the expected payoff is adaptively optimized through positive and negative feedback reinforcement of behavior. The purpose of this research is to investigate the role of operant conditioning in engendering respiratory optimization in a spontaneously breathing animal model.
The specific aims are to examine the roles of 1) vagal volume feedback, 2) carotid chemoreceptor feedback, and 3) combined chemo- and mechano-afferent feedback in operant conditioning of RCPG output. These afferent pathways will be physically stimulated by electrical or mechanical means in synchrony with the central respiratory rhythm in anesthetized, paralyzed and servo-ventilated rabbits. The effects of temporal correlations of neural activities on the conditioning behavior will be examined by pairing the afferent and efferent activities at varying phase shifts. The phasic inputs are designed to """"""""train"""""""" the respiratory neural network to adapt to altered physiological inputs. The relation of the adaptive response to the optimization of the amplitude and wave shape of the central respiratory pattern will be examined by using a mathematical model developed previously. These in-vivo electrophysiological data will complement other electrophysiological studies using in-vitro techniques as well as neural network modeling of the respiratory control system currently under way.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL052925-03
Application #
2735247
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG7-SSS-8 (22))
Project Start
1996-07-12
Project End
1999-06-30
Budget Start
1998-07-01
Budget End
1999-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02139
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Poon, C S; Zhou, Z; Champagnat, J (2000) NMDA receptor activity in utero averts respiratory depression and anomalous long-term depression in newborn mice. J Neurosci 20:RC73
Zhou, Z; Poon, C S (2000) Field potential analysis of synaptic transmission in spiking neurons in a sparse and irregular neuronal structure in vitro. J Neurosci Methods 94:193-203
Siniaia, M S; Young, D L; Poon, C S (2000) Habituation and desensitization of the Hering-Breuer reflex in rat. J Physiol 523 Pt 2:479-91
Poon, C S; Young, D L; Siniaia, M S (2000) High-pass filtering of carotid-vagal influences on expiration in rat: role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Neurosci Lett 284:8-May
Poon, C S; Siniaia, M S (2000) Plasticity of cardiorespiratory neural processing: classification and computational functions. Respir Physiol 122:83-109
Poon, C S; Siniaia, M S; Young, D L et al. (1999) Short-term potentiation of carotid chemoreflex: an NMDAR-dependent neural integrator. Neuroreport 10:2261-5
Kolandaivelu, K; Poon, C S (1998) A miniature mechanical ventilator for newborn mice. J Appl Physiol 84:733-9
Young, D L; Poon, C S (1998) Hebbian covariance learning. A nexus for respiratory variability, memory, and optimization? Adv Exp Med Biol 450:73-83
Feng, Z C; Poon, C S (1998) Pendelluft flow in symmetric airway bifurcations. J Biomech Eng 120:463-7

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