The mind-body nexus: Defining the pathways that enhance cognitive and physical performance
Abstract
It is widely recognized that interactions between the mind and body have profound effects on performance in both the cognitive and physical domain. The power of mental re-appraisal can be dramatic: the toil of work can be converted into health promoting physical activity, a threat can be transformed into a challenge, fatigue can be circumvented, purpose in life can improve health and strong social relations can alter visceral organ function. Complementing this top down influence there are known brain health promoting physical activities including sleep, exercise, a sound diet and a healthy microbial flora. Together, this rapidly growing behavioral literature on mind-body interactions suggests a powerful two-way street, with information and influence flowing in either direction. The shaping of the body s visceral physiology by the brain has been defined mostly by the contribution of circulating pituitary-hypothalamic hormones or autonomic influences arising from the brain stem. While these canonical mechanisms clearly link the subcortical brain and body, the contribution of cognition and the cortical control of the body (beyond muscles) is glaringly absent from most physiology models. For example, there is new evidence establishing the links from cortex to the adrenal medulla. There is also extremely rapid sympathetic modulation of the heart and skeletal muscles occurs with decision making, motivated behavior and reward seeking. On slower time scales, mental states can alter normal organ function and might even alter the gut microbiome. We are only beginning to formalize the architecture that enables this multi-layered control occurring across multiple time scales and contexts. Complementing these top down processes, there are enormous gaps in understanding how information from the body reaches the brain to shape cognitive health and performance. Circulating factors released by muscle are widely recognized as drivers of brain health and the expression of BDNF. There is increasing recognition that the autonomic nervous system, particularly vagal afferents also play a critical role as a signaling pathway and can also increase BDNF expression in the brain. Nevertheless. there remain many gaps in understanding the neurally mediated mind-body nexus. It is also evident that the gut microbiome can shape brain activity, cognition and physical performance. In this case, the mechanisms by which signals from microbial flora are transduced and alter cortical activity via neurotransmitters and other means are only beginning to be understood. Recently the concept of the "holobiome" has been introduced to emphasize that no single aspect of an organism is sufficient to understand performance. With that, we are motivated to consider a multi-dimensional approach. Objectives: We propose a workshop that will focus on identifying both the known and uncertain bidirectional neural pathways, signaling mechanisms within the body and cortical circuits that mediate mind-body interactions. To focus discussion, the workshop will be organized around top down and bottom up processes and draw on expertise from both animal and human model systems. The primary objectives are: 1) Identify putative and probable mechanisms by which mental activity reaches and shapes the viscera through neural and non-neural mechanisms. 2) Discuss known and putative mechanisms of visceral perception and characterize pathways for propagating information to the neocortex of the brain. 3) Review the signaling mechanisms that allow the gut and mind to shape each other s activity. Define opportunities for translating animal studies of gut microbiome to neural based model. 4) Bridge the gap between behavioral models and targets of intervention. Identify challenges and opportunities in establishing biologic/mechanistic understanding of mind-body interactions that could enhance or sustain human performance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 22, 2020
- Source ID
- W911NF2010332
Entities
People
- Scott T. Grafton
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of California, Santa Barbara