Neural Circuits of Cephalic Autonomic and Orofacial Sensorimotor Control

Recent advances in neural circuit mapping—including viral tracing, high-resolution imaging, single-cell transcriptomics, and in vivo recordings—have greatly accelerated our understanding of autonomic pathways, particularly those governing visceral functions. In contrast, neural circuits underlying cephalic autonomic regulation, which control salivary secretion, vascular tone, mucosal activity, and glandular function in the orofacial and oropharyngeal regions, remain relatively underexplored at the circuit level. These autonomic pathways operate in close coordination with orofacial sensory and motor systems that support essential behaviors such as chewing, swallowing, vocalization, respiration, and facial expression.Despite a long history of physiological and anatomical studies, modern mechanistic insights into how autonomic, sensory, and motor circuits are integrated within the cephalic nervous system remain limited. Understanding this integration is crucial for elucidating how the brain orchestrates complex orofacial functions in both health and disease.This Research Topic aims to integrate foundational knowledge with contemporary experimental approaches to clarify the organization, function, and modulation of cephalic autonomic and orofacial sensorimotor circuits. We welcome studies employing cell-type-specific manipulations, functional recordings, and molecular or anatomical profiling to define how distinct neuronal populations interact across autonomic, sensory, and motor domains. Contributions addressing developmental, aging-related, or disease-associated alterations in these circuits, as well as their interactions with higher-order cortical and subcortical systems, are particularly encouraged.Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:Neural organization and functional mapping of autonomic, sensory, and motor circuits controlling orofacial and oropharyngeal functionsCircuit mechanisms coordinating cephalic autonomic outputs with orofacial motor behaviors (e.g., chewing, swallowing, vocalization, respiration)Molecular, genetic, and anatomical characterization of cell types contributing to sensorimotor–autonomic integrationBrainstem and cranial nerve circuits supporting multimodal integration of sensory, motor, and autonomic signalsDevelopmental, aging-related, and pathological changes in cephalic autonomic and orofacial circuitsMechanistic studies of autonomic and sensorimotor dysfunction in orofacial disorders and their clinical implicationsComparative analyses of cephalic versus visceral autonomic and sensorimotor circuits across speciesBehavioral assays and quantitative approaches for assessing orofacial functionsWe invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that provide mechanistic insight into neural circuit organization, advance understanding of integrated cephalic control systems, and highlight emerging directions in autonomic and orofacial neuroscience. This Research Topic seeks to foster a comprehensive framework for studying cephalic neural circuits and their relevance to health and disease. Topic editors: Jun Takatoh, Koji Toda Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78340/neural-circuits-of-cephalic-autonomic-and-orofacial-sensorimotor-control