[Morphology and Function of the Central Autonomic Network: Recent Findings].

Recent brain imaging studies show that the regions comprising the central autonomic network (CAN) receive strong fiber connections from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord and that the CAN comprehensively controls autonomic functions. Several autonomic function tests are available to investigate CAN function. A thorough knowledge of CAN is important to understand the pathogenesis of not only acute cerebrovascular and degenerative diseases but also postural orthostatic tachycardia with mental vulnerability and some psychiatric disorders. Future studies are warranted to investigate CAN function in patients with postural tachycardia syndrome and some psychiatric disorders, because CAN disturbances may alter patients' emotional status.