Clinical potential of sensory neurites in the heart and their role in decision-making

Abstract

The process of decision-making is quite complex involving different aspects of logic, emotion, and intuition. The process of decision-making can be summarized as choosing the best alternative among a given plethora of options in order to achieve the desired outcome. This requires establishing numerous neural networks between various factors associated with the decision and creation of possible combinations and speculating their possible outcomes. In a nutshell, it is a highly coordinated process consuming the majority of the brain's energy. It has been found that the heart comprises an intrinsic neural system that contributes not only to the decision-making process but also the short-term and long-term memory. There are approximately 40,000 cells present in the heart known as sensory neurites which play a vital role in memory transfer. The heart is quite a mysterious organ, which functions as a blood-pumping machine and an endocrine gland, as well as possesses a nervous system. There are multiple factors that affect this heart ecosystem, and they directly affect our decision-making capabilities. These interlinked relationships hint toward the sensory neurites which modulate cognition and mood regulation. This review article aims to provide deeper insights into the various roles played by sensory neurites in decision-making and other cognitive functions. The article highlights the pivotal role of sensory neurites in the numerous brain functions, and it also meticulously discusses the mechanisms through which they modulate their effects.

Keywords: decision-making; neural development; neurovascular unit; sensory neurites; sensory transduction.

Figure 1

Pictorial representation of the cardiac neuronal hierarchy emphasising on the peripheral nerve components. Sensory cardiac signals are transduced by afferent nerve stomata in intrathoracic extrinsic and intrinsic cardiac ganglion through intrathoracic local circuit nerve cells to cardiac motor nerve cells.

Figure 2

The exteroceptive–interoceptive integration. (1) Information processing from exteroceptive inputs occurs concurrently with; (2) two-way communication among the interoceptive channels and the brain; (3) integration of signals from the brain received from the sources; the results of the integrations are (4) intricate autonomic responses and (5) complex brain responses; (6) consciousness can also be studied by establishing the model plausible causal integration among the brain dynamics and intricate cardiac activity.

Figure 3

Illustration depicting afferent pathways through which the intrinsic cardiac neural system modulates its effects on the brain. Note the direct connections between the amygdala, thalamus, and hypothalamus.