Developments in autonomic research: a review of the latest literature

Macefield, Vaughan G.

doi:10.1007/s10286-009-0520-5

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…However, the ACC has been associated with many processes (see http://neurosynth.org/analyses/terms/acc/) and, therefore, its role in modulating PNS function is unlikely to be specific [Yarkoni et al, ]. Subcortical brain regions are also implicated in modulating PNS function, and the amygdala and pallidum have both previously been associated with core parasympathetic tone, albeit for disparate autonomic functions including metabolism, reward, emotion and motor response [Allen et al, ; Critchley, ; Critchley and Harrison, ; Hawksley et al, ; Macefield, ; McDougall et al, ; Novac and Bota, ; Park and Thayer, ; Su et al, ; Tanaka et al, ]. We have demonstrated that the amygdala and pallidum differ in shape depending on an individual's resting CVT.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology of subcortical brain nuclei is associated with autonomic function in healthy humans

Ruffle

Coen

Giampietro

et al. 2017

Human Brain Mapping

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The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a brain body interface which serves to maintain homeostasis by influencing a plethora of physiological processes, including metabolism, cardiorespiratory regulation and nociception. Accumulating evidence suggests that ANS function is disturbed in numerous prevalent clinical disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia. While the brain is a central hub for regulating autonomic function, the association between resting autonomic activity and subcortical morphology has not been comprehensively studied and thus was our aim. In 27 healthy subjects [14 male and 13 female; mean age 30 years (range 22-53 years)], we quantified resting ANS function using validated indices of cardiac sympathetic index (CSI) and parasympathetic cardiac vagal tone (CVT). High resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired, and differences in subcortical nuclei shape, that is, 'deformation', contingent on resting ANS activity were investigated. CSI positively correlated with outward deformation of the brainstem, right nucleus accumbens, right amygdala and bilateral pallidum (all thresholded to corrected P < 0.05). In contrast, parasympathetic CVT negatively correlated with inward deformation of the right amygdala and pallidum (all thresholded to corrected P < 0.05). Left and right putamen volume positively correlated with Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article. CVT (r 5 0.62, P 5 0.0047 and r 5 0.59, P 5 0.008, respectively), as did the brainstem (r 5 0.46, P 5 0.049). These data provide novel evidence that resting autonomic state is associated with differences in the shape and volume of subcortical nuclei. Thus, subcortical morphological brain differences in various disorders may partly be attributable to perturbation in autonomic function. Further work is warranted to investigate these findings in clinical populations. Hum Brain Mapp 39:381-392, 2018.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology of subcortical brain nuclei is associated with autonomic function in healthy humans

Ruffle

Coen

Giampietro

et al. 2017

Human Brain Mapping

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“…Modelling in twins, however, suggests that there are two separate predisposing genetic factors [4] including variants that modulate sensitivity to pain, as well as those mediating anxiety and depression. A number of approaches to pain sensitivity genetics have been adopted including the examination of rare (monogenic) syndromes of pain insensitivity (reviewed in [5]) and candidate genes identified from transcriptional profiling in animal models [6]. Candidate gene studies in humans with chronic pain have been unconvincing, and confirmed candidate gene associations are still lacking (reviewed in [4] and [7]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genes Contributing to Pain Sensitivity in the Normal Population: An Exome Sequencing Study

et al. 2012

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Sensitivity to pain varies considerably between individuals and is known to be heritable. Increased sensitivity to experimental pain is a risk factor for developing chronic pain, a common and debilitating but poorly understood symptom. To understand mechanisms underlying pain sensitivity and to search for rare gene variants (MAF<5%) influencing pain sensitivity, we explored the genetic variation in individuals' responses to experimental pain. Quantitative sensory testing to heat pain was performed in 2,500 volunteers from TwinsUK (TUK): exome sequencing to a depth of 70× was carried out on DNA from singletons at the high and low ends of the heat pain sensitivity distribution in two separate subsamples. Thus in TUK1, 101 pain-sensitive and 102 pain-insensitive were examined, while in TUK2 there were 114 and 96 individuals respectively. A combination of methods was used to test the association between rare variants and pain sensitivity, and the function of the genes identified was explored using network analysis. Using causal reasoning analysis on the genes with different patterns of SNVs by pain sensitivity status, we observed a significant enrichment of variants in genes of the angiotensin pathway (Bonferroni corrected p = 3.8×10−4). This pathway is already implicated in animal models and human studies of pain, supporting the notion that it may provide fruitful new targets in pain management. The approach of sequencing extreme exome variation in normal individuals has provided important insights into gene networks mediating pain sensitivity in humans and will be applicable to other common complex traits.

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“…Lack of sleep is strongly related to alterations in pain perception in normal subjects and frequently leads to hyperalgesia [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Sleep restriction (SR) can also affect the autonomic nervous system [8], which in turn has been implicated in C fiber sensitization [9][10][11] and pain perpetuation [12,13]. Indeed, autonomic nuclei are located at the brainstem and are close to the ascending activated reticular system that is involved in sleep processing [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%