COGNITIVE INFLUENCES ON HUMAN AUTONOMIC NERVOUS-SYSTEM FUNCTION

Recent studies of human autonomic nervous system function have challen ged the traditional view that the parasympathetic and sympathetic bran ches have opposite effects. In addition, studies of autonomic activity that accompanies attention, orienting and learning have demonstrated that the autonomic nervous system is not simply a 'non-cognitive' and automatic part of brain function. The autonomic and central nervous sy stems are intimately related, and new research is beginning to link br ain function with autonomic function in a dynamic way.