The autonomic motor system

controls our internal organs (e.g. heart muscle, smooth muscle, glands);
the control is largely non voluntary. It is essential to maintain homeostasis of the
internal environment and the basic physiologiological functions.

It also mediates some of the behavioural expression of emotional states. When

we are frightened, our heart races, our breathing becomes rapid and shallow, our
mouth becomes dry, our muscles tense, our palms become sweaty, and we may
want to run. These bodily changes accompanying fear are mediated
by the autonomic motor system.

The autonomic motor system is distinct from the somatic motor system, which
controls skeletal muscle. Nevertheless, to produce behaviors the somatic and
autonomic motor systems must work together.

The autonomic motor system is controlled by a central neuronal network that

includes the hypothalamus.
 Autonomic motor system
Fight and flight Rest and digest

The sympathetic and

parasympathetic
systems play
complementary, even
antagonistic, roles;
the sympathetic
system promotes
arousal, defense, and
escape, whereas the
parasympathetic
system promotes
eating and
procreation.
Actually during
everyday life the
different divisions of
the autonomic
system are tightly
integrated.
Hypothalamus The hypothalamus, which lies ventral to
the thalamus, is the most important brain
structure that controls the autonomous
nervous system.

The hypothalamus coordinates the

functions of the autonomous nervous
system and the endocrine system to
maintain homeostasis of the internal
environment and the basic
physiologiological functions, despite
variations in the external world

Basic physiologiological functions

controlled by the hypothalamus:

-blood pressure
-composition and osmolarity of body liquids
-body temperature
- energy metabolism
-reproductive (sexual and parental) activity
-stress responses and defensive behaviour
-sleep-wake cycle
Hypothalamus Through its extensive afferent and
efferent connections with practically every
region of the central nervous
system, the hypothalamus also influences
behaviour aimed at maintaining
homeostasis. It is an essential component
of the motivational systems of the brain,
which control behaviors the organism
finds aversive or rewarding

The hypothalamus coordinates the

autonomous nervous system, the
endocrine system and behaviour to
maintain homeostasis of the internal
environment and the basic physiological
functions
e.g. it regulates
thirst, hunger, appetite for salts, drinking
and eating behaviour (cf control of
metabolism and osmolarity of body
liquids);
maternal behaviour, mating behaviour
(cf control of reproductive activity)
 Context information
(from cerebral cortex, amygdala,
hippocampus)
HYPOTHALAMUS
integrates the different inputs and
evaluates if physiological
parameters deviate from the normal
reference biological values
Sensory input
(visceral, somatic
humoral)
-autonomic and somatic motor
responses
-neuroendocrine responses
-behavioural responses
to restore homeostasis
e.g. if there is deviation from 37 °C temperature,
the hypothalamus promotes deviation of blood
flow from deep vascular beds to cutaneous ones
and increases sweating (autonomic motor
response); it increases secretion of vasopressin
to favour water retention to be able to eliminate
it with sweating (neuroendocrine response); it
activates behaviours aimed at finding a fresh
environment.
Parvicellular
neuroendocrine cells:
Magnocellular
GRH neuroendocrine cells:
TRH
CRH
GnRH
PIH
GRIH (somatostatin)
Vasopressin (ADH)
Oxytocin
Anterior pituitary
endocrine cells:
GH
TSH
ACTH
FSH
LH
Prolactin
 Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus coordinates the behavioural expression of the emotional
states, involving autonomic, endocrine and musculoskeletal responses.

Emotions are automatic, largely unconscious behavioral and cognitive (e.g.

changes in attention, decision strategy, memory processing) responses
triggered when the brain detects a positively or negatively
charged significant stimulus.
Feelings are the conscious perceptions of emotional responses.

Amygdala
The amygdala has a key role in both expression and perception of emotions.

It links regions involved in the physical expression of emotions (hypothalamus

and brainstem reticular formation) with regions involved in conscious perception
(e.g. medial and orbital prefrontal cortex, cingulate gyrus: cf limbic system)