Central representation of the sympathetic nervous system in the cerebral cortex.
The sympathetic-related regions of the cerebral cortex were identified in rats after pseudorabies virus injections were made in functionally different targets: adrenal gland, stellate ganglion which regulates the heart, or celiac ganglion which innervates the gastrointestinal tract. Extensive transneuronal labeling was found in limbic system areas: (1) extended amygdaloid complex, (2) lateral septum, and (3) infralimbic, insular, and ventromedial temporal cortical regions (viz., ectorhinal cortex=Brodmann's area 36, perirhinal cortex=area 35, lateral entorhinal=area 28, and ventral temporal association cortex=Te3 region). Deep temporal lobe structures were prominently labeled, including the amygdalopiriform and amygdalohippocampal transition areas, ventral hippocampus and ventral subiculum. The cortical circuits mediating emotional-autonomic changes (i.e., mind-body control) are discussed.
Westerhaus
M J
MJ
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Box 8108, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Loewy
A D
AD
D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D011558:Herpesvirus 1, Suid; D009434:Neural Pathways; D020534:Parahippocampal Gyrus / Q000166:cytology; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D020665:Septum of Brain / Q000166:cytology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology*