Multilevel coordination of cranial motor mechanisms in respiratory and airway function

Network physiology investigates how distinct organ systems interact to maintain physiological resilience, with particular attention to the coordination between neural circuits managing vital behaviors. In the context of respiratory control, cranial motor mechanisms—especially those underlying upper airway function—play an essential, though incompletely understood, role. Precise neural regulation from brainstem nuclei and cranial nerves (notably the Trigeminal, Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, and Hypoglossal nerves) orchestrate airway patency and defense reflexes. Recent scientific advances have highlighted the unique role of these cranial circuits in integrating motor outputs with sensory feedback to adjust airflow, protect the airway, and support homeostatic breathing patterns. Despite progress, key questions remain regarding the interactive dynamics between cranial neural networks, their adaptation to pathology, and translation into clinical approaches for respiratory disorders.This Research Topic aims to elucidate the foundational and translational principles governing cranial motor network regulation within the broader context of respiratory physiology. By bridging computational, experimental, and clinical findings, our goal is to dissect the mechanisms through which cranial neural circuits uphold airway defenses, maintain rhythmic breathing, and respond dynamically to physiological stress or disease. Particular emphasis will be placed on revealing how network interactions yield emergent properties, provide resilience to disruption, and serve as early indicators or predictive markers for disorders affecting the upper airway. Emergent phenomena arising from cranial motor network interactions in respiratory physiology include rhythmic synchronization, such as respiratory entrainment and phase switching between nuclei, alongside dynamic airway patency, like pre-inspiratory stiffening. Additionally, these interactions generate integrated defense reflexes, such as coordinated cough-swallows, and provide system-level resilience through compensation for neurodegenerative populations. Developing a mechanistic framework may illuminate new strategies for screening, intervention, and the management of conditions characterized by airway instability or neuromotor dysfunction. These processes highlight how neural circuits maintain respiratory stability through complex, collective behavior.This Research Topic focuses on the interplay between cranial motor networks and respiratory functions, with a primary scope on neural, physiological, and clinical aspects of airway control. We encourage submissions that employ interdisciplinary approaches and methods, addressing but not limited to the following themes:• Sex- and age-related variability in cranial motor regulation and respiratory outcomes• Computational and network modeling of upper airway control, rhythm generation, and defense reflexes• Mechanistic studies of cranial motor recruitment in obstructive sleep apnea and other airway pathologies• Sensory feedback and neuroplasticity in cranial nerve-mediated airway defense behaviors• Development and assessment of interventions targeting cranial nerve function for improved respiratory health• Translational studies linking physiological biomarkers to clinical risk, resilience, and recovery in relevant populationsAppendix: We invite original research articles, systematic reviews, narrative reviews, brief reports, clinical case studies, and innovative perspectives. Topic editors: Wendy L. Olsen, Teresa Pitts, Donald C Bolser Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80666/multilevel-coordination-of-cranial-motor-mechanisms-in-respiratory-and-airway-function