MRI methods for the study of central nervous system involvement in autonomic function

To support healthy bodily functioning over a great variety of physiological and psychological conditions, mammalian autonomic regulation (AR) relies on a highly complex and incompletely explored nervous network that includes components of central and peripheral nervous systems. While, in animal, many components of this network and their interactions have been mapped with invasive electrophysiology and optical studies as well as with staining and tracing techniques, these findings only partly transfer the human. With the advent of non-invasive neuroimaging approaches based on MRI, much is being learned about AR in human, including the extent of CNS involvement, and the potential relevance of AR for memory function and brain waste clearance. In this review, some of these developments are highlighted, with an emphasis on methodological aspects.