Chapter 11 - Integration of Autonomic Regulation in the Upper Brain Stem and Limbic–Hypothalamic Centers: A Summary

Summary

Upper brain stem, hypothalamus and cerebral hemispheres contain the representations of elementary motivational behaviors. These representations receive multiple afferent feedback and are responsible for the integration of regulation of autonomic, neuroendocrine and somatomotor systems. The dorsolateral, lateral and ventrolateral cell columns in the periaqueductal gray of the mesencephalon contain the neural circuits representing the autonomic and somatomotor components of the defense behaviors, confrontation, flight and quiescence. These circuits are quickly activated by the cortex during dangerous situations and represent the basic neural machinery for active and passive coping. Coordinated autonomic responses are quickly generated by signals from the telencephalon during diving, freezing, tonic immobility, exercise, etc. These autonomic responses occur in anticipation of the somatomotor responses demonstrating that the cortical signals have direct access to the autonomic centers. The basic emotions in humans are accompanied by autonomically mediated response patterns characteristic for each emotion. The hypothalamus contains the neural structures that integrate and coordinate autonomic, neuroendocrine and somatomotor responses to basic behaviors such as defensive, reproductive, nutritive, drinking, thermoregulation and sleep-waking behavior.