Neural control of airway defense

神经系统功能障碍在许多呼吸道疾病的症状中起着重要作用。例如，过度的非生产性咳嗽，粘液分泌增加，气道通畅性降低和高反应性都是哮喘等疾病的特征性症状，并且都涉及神经系统的过度活动。这项研究的目的是了解参与控制气道的神经回路，以及这种回路如何变得功能失调的机制。

Dysfunction of the nervous system plays an important role in the symptoms of many respiratory diseases. For example, excessive non-productive coughing, elevated mucous secretion, reduced airway patency and hyperreactivity are all characteristic symptoms of diseases such as asthma and all involve over-activity of the nervous system. This research aims to understand the neural circuitry that is involved in controlling the airways and the mechanisms that underlie how this circuitry can become dysfunctional.