Figure 4. The immunological homunculus.

The CNS is organized somatotopically, such that specific neural networks regulate or coordinate particular actions in the periphery. Advances in neuroimaging and neuroscience have made it possible to study this neural organization in humans. Knowledge about the cholinergic antiinflammatory pathway as a specific regulator of cytokine responses makes it possible to consider whether there is somatotopic organization to CNS regulation and coordination of the behavior of the immune system. It is plausible that this control extends beyond the simple regulation of cytokines. In the future, it may be possible to map specific brain regions that control other immune responses as depicted in this artistic rendition.