Reflexly evoked coactivation of cardiac vagal and sympathetic motor outflows: observations and functional implications
Abstract
1. The purpose of the present review is to highlight the pattern of activity in the parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves innervating the heart during their reflex activation. 2. We describe the well-known reciprocal control of cardiac vagal and sympathetic activity during the baroreceptor reflex, but point out that this appears to be the exception rather than the rule and that many other reflexes reviewed herein (e.g. peripheral chemoreceptor, nociceptor, diving response and oculocardiac) involve simultaneous coactivation of both autonomic limbs. 3. The heart rate response during simultaneous activation of cardiac autonomic outflows is unpredictable because it does not simply reflect the summation of opposing influences. Indeed, it can result in bradycardia (peripheral chemoreceptor, diving and corneal), tachycardia (nociceptor) and, in some circumstances, can predispose to malignant arrhythmias. 4. We propose that this cardiac autonomic coactivation may allow greater cardiac output during bradycardia (increased ventricular filling time and stronger contraction) than activation of the sympathetic limb alone. This may be important when pumping blood into a constricted vascular tree, such as is the case during the peripheral chemoreceptor reflex and the diving response.
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The phenomenon of simultaneous extreme sympathetic and parasympathetic activation has been verified by other researchers and is believed to underlie tonic immobility, which occurs in both animals and humans under conditions of extreme stress.
“This phenomenon has been verified by other researchers (Paton et al., 2006), and is believed to underlie the well-recognized phenomenon of “tonic immobility” (Nijenhuis et al., 1998a; Marx et al., 2008), which is known to occur in both animals and humans under conditions of extreme stress.”
From Somatic experiencing: using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy (2015) · cites this paper as Paton et al., 2006
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- Authors
- Paton, J. F., Nalivaiko, E., Boscan, P., & Pickering, A. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Flinders University (AU)
- Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (US)
- Bristol Royal Infirmary (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Paton, Julian FR
- Venue
- Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2006-12
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 1245-1250
- ISSN
- 0305-1870 (ISSN-L)
- 1440-1681
- OpenAlex
- W2007439052
- Cited by
- 59
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 0.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (submittedVersion)
- Explore Bristol Research (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- British Heart Foundation
- Royal Society
- National Heart Foundation of Australia
- National Institutes of Health
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL033610-18)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cardiovascular Syncope and Autonomic Disorders
- Keywords
- sympathetic outflow, baroreflex, diving response, oculocardiac reflex, heart rate, bradycardia, tachycardia, malignant arrhythmias, cardiac output, ventricular contraction
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Arrhythmias, Cardiac, Bradycardia, Heart, Humans, Motor Neurons, Sympathetic Nervous System, Tachycardia, Vagus Nerve
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