Fig. 2.

By way of vagal enteric stimulation normal neural pathways may also be susceptible to abnormal microglial conversions into macrophages, inducing enhanced excitation at the peripheral level (e.g., enteric plexi). In this instance, this rapid neural response may also manifest itself via the nucleus tractus solitarius and locus coeruleus, which would influence the amygdala, hippocampus and the thalamus, and ultimately the cortex