A thermodynamic model of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

Abstract

In light of the nonequilibrium thermodynamics by I. Prigogine, the autonomic nervous system as a whole may be viewed as a dissipative structure progressively assembled in the course of evolution, plastically and rhythmically interfaced between forebrain, internal and external environments, to regulate energy, matter and information exchanges. In the present paper, this hypothesis is further pursued to verify whether the two main divisions of the autonomic nervous system, the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, may support different types of exchange with the external environment. Previous data from hypothalamic stimulation experiments, studies of locus coeruleus function and available data on behavioral functional organization indicate that (1) tight engagement with the external environment, (2) high level of energy mobilization and utilization and (3) information mainly related to exteroceptive sensory stimulation characterize a behavioral prevalence of sympathoadrenal activation. On the other hand, (1) disengagement from the external environment, (2) low levels of internal energy and (3) dominance of proprioceptive information characterize a behavioral prevalence of vagal tone. Behavioral matter exchanges such as feeding, drinking, micturition and defecation are equally absent at the extreme of sympathoadrenal and vagally driven behaviors. The autonomic nervous system as a whole is genetically determined, but the sympathoadrenal system has been mainly designed to organize the visceral apparatus for an action to be performed by the biological system in the external environment and to deal with the novelty of task and of the environment, while the functional role of the parasympathetic is to prepare the visceral apparatus for an action to be performed by the biological system on itself, for recovery and self-protection (homeostasis), and is reinforced by repetition of phylo- and ontogenetically determined patterns. The available clinical data further support this interpretation indicating that an increased sympathetic and a decreased vagal tone may represent a consistent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

Description of a large-scale study design to assess work-stress-disease associations for cardiovascular disease

“…However, these "constraints" at the lower level are the foundation platform for an organism's powerful and flexibleoption actions at a higher level -which give it the needed variety of response to react to the ever-present environmental uncertainties. example, Recordati's "thermodynamic model of a central nervous system" [45][46] and Prigogene [47] has used nonlinear forms of thermodynamics to formulate a theory of "self-organizing systems". …”

Using Ryodoraku Measurement to Evaluate the Impact of Environmental Noise on Human Physiological Response

“…According to related medical studies [7,36,37], when the human body is stimulated by external environmental factors, the sympathetic nerve will release adrenalin, which causes physiological responses, such as vasoconstriction, BP increase, heart beat increase, tachypnoea and perspiration would increase. Hence, the function of sympathetic nerve is mainly related to emergencies and energy release, whereas the function of parasympathetic nerve is mainly related to rest, recovery, energy storage and pleasantness [38]. Therefore, when the human body is stimulated by external environmental factors, the sympathetic nerve and parasympathetic nerve would act alternately, so as to promote or inhibit the operation of human organs or tissues, and maintain normal physiological function, and the corresponding organs of the CNS diagram is shown in Figure 1 [39].…”

Parental Depression Risk and Reduced Physiological Responses During a Valence Identification Task

“…The pupil's dilator musculature is innervated by sympathetic pathways, responding to engaged interaction with the external environment. The opposing pupil constrictor sphincter is innervated by parasympathetic pathways, responding to processes of internal maintenance and resource conservation (Recordati 2003). Thus, increasing pupil diameter can result from sympathetic activation and from inhibition of parasympathetic activity (Steinhauer et al 2004).…”