Brain Control over the Autonomic Nervous Systems: Coordination of Physiology and Behavior

Abstract

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) serves to transmit precise and well-directed information from the brain to selective organs. This information adapts the organs to changes in behavior that are commanded by the brain. Much can be learned of the way the ANS is functioning from studying how the biological clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), prepares every 24 h the physiology of the body via the ANS to the coming changes in behavior. Hereto the SCN has indirect connections with the motor neurons of the parasympathetic and sympathetic system. These interactions can be seen as characteristic of the way other brain regions such as the amygdala and preoptic area may affect the ANS. Information that is dearly missed is about the possibilities of the ANS to talk back to the CNS. Especially information is missing how visceral information may be transmitted from spinal sensory centers to the rest of the brain. Only in general terms can it be known how ascending information of the nucleus tractus solitarius reaches higher centers in the brain.