Paul Davenport

My research team investigates the afferent and efferent mechanisms involved in the behavioral neural 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 analysis of exhaled molecules and particles and the control of breathing pattern in individuals with neuromuscular disease, spinal injury, stroke, lung infection, asthma and the elderly. My research laboratory has also studied the sense of respiratory breathing effort for load compensation in humans and experimental animals. My lab is investigating the effect of respiratory muscle strength training on respiratory rehabilitation.

Recent Publications

1. Chan, P.-Y.S., C.-H. Cheng, Y.-T. Wu, C.W. Wu, H.-L. Liu, F.-Z. Shaw, C.-Y. Liu and P.W. Davenport. Cortical and subcortical neural correlates for respiratory sensation in response to transient inspiratory occlusions in humans. Frontiers in Physiology - Respiratory Physiology, 9:1804, 2018.
2. Kim, J., K. Hegland, W. Vann, R. Berry and P. Davenport. Measurement of Maximum Tongue Protrusion Force (MTPF) In Healthy Young Adults. Physiological Reports, 7(13): e14175, 2019.
3. Streeter, K.A., M.D. Sunshine, P.W. Davenport and D.D. Fuller. Phrenic afferent activation modulates cardiorespiratory output in the adult rat. Journal of Neurophysiology, 126(6):2091-2103, 2021. doi: 10.1152/jn.00433.2021
4. Chan, P.-Y.S., C.H. Cheng, Y.T. Wu, C.W. Wu, A.L. Hsu, C.Y. Liu, H.L. Liu and P.W. Davenport. Neural substrates of respiratory sensory gating: A human fMRI study. Biological Psychology, 169:108277, 2022. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108277.
5. Napoli, N.J., V. Ribeiro Rodrigues and P.W. Davenport. Characterizing and Modeling Breathing Dynamics: Flow Rate, Rhythm, Period, and Frequency. Frontiers in Physiology, 12:772295, 2022.
    

Honours & Awards

• University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Term Professorship Award, 2018-2021
• University of Florida, Distinguished Professor, 2012
• Dysphagia Research Society, Award of Achievement, 2011
• University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship, 2003
• Pfizer Award for Research Excellence, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2001