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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Aug 1.
Published in final edited form as: Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2011 Nov 7;36(7):1750–1762. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.11.001

Figure 1. Schematic diagram depicting the contribution of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) as both a recipient of peripheral inputs from the vagus nerve and a transmitter of these visceral signals to limbic structures that process memory after emotionally arousing events.

Figure 1

Feedback regarding fluctuations in peripheral visceral systems are conveyed to the brain via peripheral vagal fibers. The terminals of the vagus nerve synapse directly within the NTS. After activation by vagal afferents, NTS neurons convey information to structures that process memory such as the amygdala, hippocampus and frontal cortex via a polysynaptic pathway to the locus coeruleus (LC). Norepinephrine (NE) is known as one of the primary transmitters to mediate synaptic communication between these structures.