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Central Nervous System Influences in Asthma

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Heterogeneity in Asthma

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 795))

Abstract

Asthma is a biomedical disorder whose presentation can be markedly influenced by neurological and psychological factors. This chapter describes several approaches that provide insight into the role of psychological factors and brain function in asthma. These include the study of placebo responses and recent explorations using functional neuroimaging during the onset of asthma symptoms. Although the specific mechanisms involved remain uncertain, we are gaining an appreciation for some of the neurocircuitry that is involved. The insula and ACC may modulate inflammatory processes by their influence on neuroendocrine responses to stress, including highly studied effects on the HPA axis and its physiologic responses. However much we have recently learned, it is clear that further study of this topic is critical to fully explicate the role of the brain in asthma.

This study was conducted with the support of the Institute for Translational Science at the University of Texas Medical Branch, supported in part by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (UL1TR00007) from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, C305GH UIHC, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Joel N. Kline M.D., M.Sc.

  2. Institute for Translational Sciences, Children’s Hospital, UTMB, Room 6.162, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77551, USA

    Robert M. Rose M.D.

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  1. Joel N. Kline M.D., M.Sc.
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  2. Robert M. Rose M.D.
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Correspondence to Joel N. Kline M.D., M.Sc. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA

    Allan R. Brasier

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Kline, J.N., Rose, R.M. (2014). Central Nervous System Influences in Asthma. In: Brasier, A. (eds) Heterogeneity in Asthma. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 795. Humana Press, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8603-9_19

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