Brainstem: neural networks vital for life

Nicholls, John G.; Paton, Julian F. R.

doi:10.1098/rstb.2009.0064

Cited by 37 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…These functions include respiration, cardiovascular regulation, sleep, consciousness, and transmission of sensory and motor information between the brain and the spinal cord (Nicholls and Paton, 2009). Knowledge of the structural organization in the brainstem originates from animal and human dissection and histology studies, and, in the more recent years, from human neuroimaging studies (Harting, 1977; Steriade et al, 1988; Stieltjes et al, 2001; Habas and Cabanis, 2007; Naidich et al, 2008; Kamali et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Imaging White Matter in Human Brainstem

Ford¹,

Colon-Perez²,

Triplett³

et al. 2013

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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The human brainstem is critical for the control of many life-sustaining functions, such as consciousness, respiration, sleep, and transfer of sensory and motor information between the brain and the spinal cord. Most of our knowledge about structure and organization of white and gray matter within the brainstem is derived from ex vivo dissection and histology studies. However, these methods cannot be applied to study structural architecture in live human participants. Tractography from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may provide valuable insights about white matter organization within the brainstem in vivo. However, this method presents technical challenges in vivo due to susceptibility artifacts, functionally dense anatomy, as well as pulsatile and respiratory motion. To investigate the limits of MR tractography, we present results from high angular resolution diffusion imaging of an intact excised human brainstem performed at 11.1 T using isotropic resolution of 0.333, 1, and 2 mm, with the latter reflecting resolution currently used clinically. At the highest resolution, the dense fiber architecture of the brainstem is evident, but the definition of structures degrades as resolution decreases. In particular, the inferred corticopontine/corticospinal tracts (CPT/CST), superior (SCP) and middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP), and medial lemniscus (ML) pathways are clearly discernable and follow known anatomical trajectories at the highest spatial resolution. At lower resolutions, the CST/CPT, SCP, and MCP pathways are artificially enlarged due to inclusion of collinear and crossing fibers not inherent to these three pathways. The inferred ML pathways appear smaller at lower resolutions, indicating insufficient spatial information to successfully resolve smaller fiber pathways. Our results suggest that white matter tractography maps derived from the excised brainstem can be used to guide the study of the brainstem architecture using diffusion MRI in vivo.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Imaging White Matter in Human Brainstem

Ford¹,

Colon-Perez²,

Triplett³

et al. 2013

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Central neural control of respiration occurs via descending efferent signals from ventilatory centers in the brainstem to spinal motor neuron pools in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal cord to activate these various respiratory muscles (Feldman, 1986; Lane, 2011; Monteau and Hilaire, 1991; Nicholls and Paton, 2009). Given the extensive rostro-caudal distribution of lower respiratory motor neurons (Lane, 2011; Monteau and Hilaire, 1991), injury at nearly any level of the spinal cord can result in some type of respiratory impairment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiration following spinal cord injury: Evidence for human neuroplasticity

Hoh

Mercier

Hussey

et al. 2013

Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology

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Respiratory dysfunction is one of the most devastating consequences of cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) with impaired breathing being a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. However, there is mounting experimental and clinical evidence for moderate spontaneous respiratory recovery, or “plasticity”, after some spinal cord injuries. Pre-clinical models of respiratory dysfunction following SCI have demonstrated plasticity at neural and behavioral levels that result in progressive recovery of function. Temporal changes in respiration after human SCI have revealed some functional improvements suggesting plasticity paralleling that seen in experimental models – a concept that has been previously under-appreciated. While the extent of spontaneous recovery remains limited, it is possible that enhancing or facilitating neuroplastic mechanisms may have significant therapeutic potential. The next generation of treatment strategies for SCI and related respiratory dysfunction should aim to optimize these recovery processes of the injured spinal cord for lasting functional restoration.

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“…The baroreceptors are important in the moment-to-moment control of BP and buffering of acute fluctuations in arterial BP during postural and volume changes, as well as physiological or mental stress, thereby minimizing BP variability. Decreased BRS contributes to the pathogenesis of many conditions characterized by SNS overactivity, including chronic heart failure (32), obesity (33), and hypertension (70,79). In PTSD, there is evidence for dysfunctional baroreflexes as well.…”

Section: Autonomic Dysfunction In Ptsdmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autonomic and inflammatory consequences of posttraumatic stress disorder and the link to cardiovascular disease

Brudey

Park

Wiaderkiewicz

et al. 2015

American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comp

105

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-Stressand anxiety-related disorders are on the rise in both military and general populations. Over the next decade, it is predicted that treatment of these conditions, in particular, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), along with its associated longterm comorbidities, will challenge the health care system. Multiple organ systems are adversely affected by PTSD, and PTSD is linked to cancer, arthritis, digestive disease, and cardiovascular disease. Evidence for a strong link between PTSD and cardiovascular disease is compelling, and this review describes current clinical data linking PTSD to cardiovascular disease, via inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, and the renin-angiotensin system. Recent clinical and preclinical evidence regarding the role of the renin-angiotensin system in the extinction of fear memory and relevance in PTSD-related immune and autonomic dysfunction is also addressed. posttraumatic stress disorder; cardiovascular disease; renin-angiotensin system POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) is a psychiatric illness characterized by persistent emotional and mental stress following a traumatic event. Symptoms of PTSD include hyperarousal, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or nightmares, and avoidance of activities that trigger memories of the traumatic event. The health consequences of PTSD are substantial, affecting multiple organ systems, with evidence linking PTSD to diseases such as cancer, arthritis, digestive disease, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (13,14,112). The evidence demonstrating increased risk for CVD in PTSD (9,15,19,49,57,58) is compelling, and several excellent recent review articles have highlighted this association (20,23,52,63,112). While this association could certainly be due, in part, to related unhealthy behaviors, such as increased prevalence of smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity (46,119). Yet even after adjustments for lifestyle, comorbid conditions, and combat engagements in multivariate models, PTSD remains a significant and independent risk factor for the development of CVD and CVD-related mortality (15).Increased CVD risk in PTSD has been demonstrated in both military (21) and civilian populations (44,82). A co-twin study design (monozygotic and dizygotic), which controlled for genetic and familial confounders, demonstrated that the incidence of coronary heart disease was more than double in Vietnam War veteran twins with PTSD (22.6%) compared with those without PTSD (8.9%) (106). Most recently, one of the largest longitudinal studies examining the association between PTSD and heart failure was completed, and veterans with PTSD were shown to be nearly 50% more likely to develop heart failure than veterans without PTSD (91). This remained significant after adjustments for age, sex, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, body mass index, combat, and military service. Civilian PTSD populations are also at greater risk for CVD. Following life-threatening traumatic events such as earthquakes (82), the 9 -11 World Trade Center attack (45), and living in urban dis...

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Brainstem: neural networks vital for life

Cited by 37 publications

References 16 publications

Imaging White Matter in Human Brainstem

Imaging White Matter in Human Brainstem

Respiration following spinal cord injury: Evidence for human neuroplasticity

Autonomic and inflammatory consequences of posttraumatic stress disorder and the link to cardiovascular disease

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