====== Nucleus Tractus Solitarius (NTS) ======

The NTS is a longitudinal structure in the medulla best known for carrying afferent taste (special visceral afferent) information, but it is also a major processing station for ascending visceral information from throughout the body, and it plays an important role in neuro-immune loops and autonomic reflexes.  Major functions include taste and cardiac control.

===== Image and Location =====

Neurosynth: No images available (too few mentions in publications.) 

{{::topolovec_2004_2.jpg|Topolovec_2004}}

{{ ::komisaruk_2002.jpg?400|komisaruk_2002}} {{:topolovec_2004.jpg?600 |topolovec_2004}}

{{ ::lower_medulla.png?700 |Haines atlas: Lower medulla}}
===== Searches =====

=== Searches so far: ===
(solitarius OR solitary nucleus) AND review
(solitarius OR solitary nucleus) AND connectivity
(solitarius OR solitary nucleus) AND fMRI
=== Most important references ===
(classic papers, best papers)
APA 5th format from Endnote, e.g.,

Fields, H. L. (2000). Pain modulation: expectation, opioid analgesia and virtual pain.Progress in brain research, 122, 245-253.

=== Link to Endnote ===
{{:sample_endnote_library.enlp.zip|Endnote Package Library (with PDFs)}}

===== Structure =====

==== Inputs ====
Major afferent vagal nucleus in the dorsal vagal complex, along with the area postrema (AP) and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMN-X) (Leslie 1986)

Peripheral inputs include:
* Cranial nerves VII, IX and X (taste and visceral inputs)
* Chemoreceptors and Baroreceptors in aorta/carotid arteries 
* Lung stretch receptors
* Autonomic afferents from the GI tract and mucus membranes
* Chemically and mechanically sensitive neurons with endings located in the heart, lungs, airways, gastrointestinal system, and liver (via IX and X)

Cortical/subcortical inputs include:
* Medial prefrontal cortex (mainly infra limbic); (Neafsey 1986)

==== Outputs ====
* paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus 
* central nucleus of the amygdala
* parabrachial area and other visceral motor or respiratory networks--GI and gustatory

Also projects to other brainstem nuclei to implement vagal reflexes and other functions (Ross et al., 1985), including: 
* topographic projection to rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) 
* caudal ventrolateral medulla (baroreceptor reflex)
* retrofacial nucleus 
* nucleus ambiguus

===== Functions =====

==== Summary list ====

Autonomic reflexes: gag reflex, carotid sinus reflex, aortic reflex, cough reflex, the baroreceptor and chemoreceptor reflexes, several respiratory reflexes and regulation of GI motility and secretion.

Cardiovascular function:  substance P, angiotensin  II (Leslie 1986)
GI regulation: dopamine, endorphins, CCK (Leslie 1986)

=== Other ===


===== Studies activating =====

==== Coordinates ====

**Coordinates (x, y, z):**
[0, 0, 0] , [0, 0, 0]
No coordinates from published studies.  Coordinates derived from anatomical landmarks and functional localization in published studies.

**Specific study coordinates** (if not too many)
^ Study     ^ Description       ^ x          ^ y    ^ z     ^
| Topolovec 2004    | Contrast Descrip     | ~  | ~ | ~ |
| Komisaruk 2002   | Contrast Descrip       | ~ | ~ | ~ |


==== List of Studies ====

=== Specific, key studies ===

=== Study list: Coordinate based ===
Neurosynth results for coordinate(s)

<list studies here from Neurosynth database>