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Autonomic Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System 129
preserved attentional functioning. In fact, there are even documented cases of age-related improvement in expertise, automaticity, and top-down attentional guidance. Recognition of these positive influences of aging might lead to explanations for some of the lingering controversies in the study of aging and attention.
See also: Adaptation; Perception.
Further Reading Allen PA, Lien M-C, Murphy MD, Sanders RE, Judge K, and McCann R (2002) Age differences in overlapping-task performance: Evidence for efficient parallel
processing in older adults. Psychology and Aging 17: 505–519. Bucur B, Allen PA, Sanders RE, Ruthruff E, and Murphy MD (2005) Age differences in dividing attention between bimodal dimensions: Investigating coactive processing in older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences 60B: P279–P282. Cabeza R (2002) Hemispheric asymmetry reduction in older adults: The HAROLD model. Psychology and Aging 17: 85–100. Madden DJ and Whiting WL (2004) Age-related changes in visual attention. In: Costa PT and Siegler IC (eds.) Recent Advances in Psychology and Aging, pp. 41–84. Amsterdam: Elsevier. Mayr U (2001) Age differences in the selection of mental sets: The role of inhibition, stimulus ambiguity, and response-set overlap. Psychology and Aging 16: 96–109.
Autonomic Nervous System S E Borst, S Goswami, D T Lowenthal and D Newell, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Administration Medical Center, and University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA & 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Glossary Adrenergic – Having the properties of epinephrine or norepinephrine (NE). Drugs that produce effects similar to those of epinephrine are said to be adrenergic, as are nerve endings that release norepinephrine and the cell surface receptors that bind NE and epinephrine. Baroreceptor Reflex – A mechanism for minute-tominute regulation of blood pressure (BP). Baroreceptors located in arteries of the upper body respond to a reduction in BP by signaling the brain to activate the sympathetic nervous system, thereby raising the arterial pressure. Catecholamines – Any of various amines that function as hormones and neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system, most notably epinephrine, norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA). The former British names for epinephrine and NE are adrenaline and noradrenaline. Cholinergic – Having the properties of acetylcholine; refers to drugs that mimic acetylcholine (ACh),
nerve endings that release ACh, and the cell surface receptors in tissues that respond to ACh. Neurotransmitter – A chemical substance that is released from nerve endings when the nerve fires. The neurotransmitter diffuses across the small space of the synapse and binds to a receptor located on an adjacent cell, where it produces its physiological effect. Postural Hypotension – Reduced arterial pressure in the upper body after rapidly standing upright. Renin-Angiotensin System – A mechanism for longerterm regulation of blood pressure and plasma volume. A fall in arterial pressure or sympathetic nerve stimulation causes release of renin from the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidney. The enzymatic action of renin causes the formation of angiotensin II, a peripheral vasoconstrictor that stimulates the release of aldosterone, facilitating sodium and water retention by the kidney.
Introduction The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls involuntary, vegetative, and visceral functions, including heart rate, blood pressure (BP), the motility and secretion of the digestive system, the urinary bladder, and aspects of sexual function. Some of the major responses elicited by the ANS are listed in Table 1. The responses of the ANS are involuntary. In contrast, the somatic nervous system controls voluntary
preserved attentional functioning. In fact, there are even documented cases of age-related improvement in expertise, automaticity, and top-down attentional guidance. Recognition of these positive influences of aging might lead to explanations for some of the lingering controversies in the study of aging and attention.
See also: Adaptation; Perception.
Further Reading Allen PA, Lien M-C, Murphy MD, Sanders RE, Judge K, and McCann R (2002) Age differences in overlapping-task performance: Evidence for efficient parallel
processing in older adults. Psychology and Aging 17: 505–519. Bucur B, Allen PA, Sanders RE, Ruthruff E, and Murphy MD (2005) Age differences in dividing attention between bimodal dimensions: Investigating coactive processing in older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences 60B: P279–P282. Cabeza R (2002) Hemispheric asymmetry reduction in older adults: The HAROLD model. Psychology and Aging 17: 85–100. Madden DJ and Whiting WL (2004) Age-related changes in visual attention. In: Costa PT and Siegler IC (eds.) Recent Advances in Psychology and Aging, pp. 41–84. Amsterdam: Elsevier. Mayr U (2001) Age differences in the selection of mental sets: The role of inhibition, stimulus ambiguity, and response-set overlap. Psychology and Aging 16: 96–109.
Autonomic Nervous System S E Borst, S Goswami, D T Lowenthal and D Newell, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Administration Medical Center, and University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA & 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Glossary Adrenergic – Having the properties of epinephrine or norepinephrine (NE). Drugs that produce effects similar to those of epinephrine are said to be adrenergic, as are nerve endings that release norepinephrine and the cell surface receptors that bind NE and epinephrine. Baroreceptor Reflex – A mechanism for minute-tominute regulation of blood pressure (BP). Baroreceptors located in arteries of the upper body respond to a reduction in BP by signaling the brain to activate the sympathetic nervous system, thereby raising the arterial pressure. Catecholamines – Any of various amines that function as hormones and neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system, most notably epinephrine, norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA). The former British names for epinephrine and NE are adrenaline and noradrenaline. Cholinergic – Having the properties of acetylcholine; refers to drugs that mimic acetylcholine (ACh),
nerve endings that release ACh, and the cell surface receptors in tissues that respond to ACh. Neurotransmitter – A chemical substance that is released from nerve endings when the nerve fires. The neurotransmitter diffuses across the small space of the synapse and binds to a receptor located on an adjacent cell, where it produces its physiological effect. Postural Hypotension – Reduced arterial pressure in the upper body after rapidly standing upright. Renin-Angiotensin System – A mechanism for longerterm regulation of blood pressure and plasma volume. A fall in arterial pressure or sympathetic nerve stimulation causes release of renin from the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidney. The enzymatic action of renin causes the formation of angiotensin II, a peripheral vasoconstrictor that stimulates the release of aldosterone, facilitating sodium and water retention by the kidney.
Introduction The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls involuntary, vegetative, and visceral functions, including heart rate, blood pressure (BP), the motility and secretion of the digestive system, the urinary bladder, and aspects of sexual function. Some of the major responses elicited by the ANS are listed in Table 1. The responses of the ANS are involuntary. In contrast, the somatic nervous system controls voluntary