Active expiration in anesthetized rats is driven by the lateral parafacial region, but requires an additional form of excitation from another source.

The rhythmic patterns of activity that underlie breathing are generated and coordinated by distinct populations of neurons within the brainstem.

The PreBötzinger complex, which contains neurons that are the kernel for inspiratory rhythm generation, also contains sympathoexcitatory and parasympathoinhibitory neurons that drive respiratory-phase oscillations in blood pressure and heart rate.

Computational modeling motivated by recent experiments clarifies biophysical mechanisms generating the rhythm and amplitude of breathing at the level of neurons and brain circuits in mammals.

The predictive power of a computational model advances understanding of the neuronal and circuit biophysical mechanisms that generate the respiratory rhythm and neural activity patterns in the mammalian brainstem.

Multivariate analysis of respiratory cycle shows that GABAergic disinhibition in the rostral regions of the lateral parafacial area is linked to the most significant and enduring changes in active expiration.

Astrocytes modulate neuronal networks during hypercapnia, introducing a novel gliotransmitter pathway where prostaglandin E2 regulates breathing.

An unbiased description reveals potential implications for understanding the developmental mechanisms that match respiratory supply and demand during hypoxia.

Latest advances in biological timing studies substantiate an emerging concept of autonomous clocks that are normally entrained by the cell cycle and/or the circadian clock to run in synchrony, but have evolved to run independently to regulate different cellular events.

Computational modeling reveals the mechanisms by which a diverse group of neurons in the brainstem generates rhythmic breathing in mammals.