Predictive processing and the autonomic nervous system from a clinical standpoint

Abstract

The autonomic nervous and endocrine systems participate in homeostasis, which is a mechanism that keeps the internal environment at a certain set point. However, the set point of the internal environment fluctuates with biological rhythms and responses to external environmental changes. In addition, humans change the internal environment for behavior that will be executed in near future. For example, when exercising, it is necessary to increase the blood supply to the muscles. Therefore, the brain gives a command to increase the blood flow to the muscles via the autonomic nervous system at the same time as commanding the muscles to move. This prospective control is called a central command. Another is allostasis, which modulates the internal environment to actuate the emotional behaviors provoked by stress. Mismatches between allostasis and emotional behavior can lead to an abnormal physical condition in which stress-related physical symptoms develop. In this paper, we focus on changes in the internal environment and prediction and explain the role of the autonomic nervous system in allostasis and related disorders.