Work

Modeling insights into potential mechanisms of opioid-induced respiratory depression within medullary and pontine networks

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: A joint neural-biomechanical model that incorporates multiple regions of the brainstem respiratory group was used to test the hypothesis that decreasing synaptic conductances of medullary and pontine neurons produces opioid-mediated respiratory breathing patterns. Simulated results broadly agree with elements of previously reported in vivo data. Furthermore, the behavior of oscillatory elements on the breathing rhythm was significantly changed by incorporation into the larger neural network, supporting the value of decomposing large-scale network models.

Source: Journal of Neurophysiology

DOI: 10.1152/jn.00530.2025