>Follow on question then. When we take conscious control of an autonomic function like blinking or breathing or facial control...
>
I have to first clarify that there's a difference between automated functions and "autonomic". The first place to start is the different types of nerve fibers that are classified based on whether they're general or specialized (i.e. special senses like optic, olfactory, and taste), somatic or visceral (skeletal muscle vs smooth muscle or gland), and afferent vs efferent (transporting information to or from the CNS; sensory vs motor).
When we talk about the autonomic nervous system, we're referencing visceral fibers (e.g. GVE, GVA) and visceral fibers can not be consciously controlled.
But the functions you mentioned (breathing, blinking, and facial muscle control) are all somatic (specifically GSE) and not autonomic. But many somatic functions are automated to an extent. There's a circuit in the brainstem that regulates oxygen saturation in the blood and will keep the respiratory system going at a stay rhythm to maintain, but they are skeletal muscles (diaphragm and intercostals) and they are under somatic (GSE) control. A lot of muscles, like postural muscles, have separate spinal cord tracts for the continuous automation of activating those muscles so that you don't simply fall to the floor like a rag doll when you stop thinking about standing up straight, but they're still somatic and you can re-take control at any time you choose.
You'd be surprised how many somatic functions actually require minimal conscious input. Like throwing a ball; you don't usually think about which muscles and how much to contract them and in which order when you throw a ball; you just think about throwing it and where you want it to go. Your cerebellum has the pre-scripted details on how to actually throw (and hit the target), does the internal math and modifies the base plan to hit the intended target and then it just runs that program upon request. But your comciousness doesn't need to perform all of those tasks. You just want to throw the ball. And none of that's autonomic, but it is automatic.
PM_ME_UR_TITTI5 t1_itrlywk wrote
Reply to comment by selectivejudgement in If each side of our body is controlled by the opposite brain hemisphere, how do we blink in sync? by killians1978
>Follow on question then. When we take conscious control of an autonomic function like blinking or breathing or facial control... >
I have to first clarify that there's a difference between automated functions and "autonomic". The first place to start is the different types of nerve fibers that are classified based on whether they're general or specialized (i.e. special senses like optic, olfactory, and taste), somatic or visceral (skeletal muscle vs smooth muscle or gland), and afferent vs efferent (transporting information to or from the CNS; sensory vs motor).
When we talk about the autonomic nervous system, we're referencing visceral fibers (e.g. GVE, GVA) and visceral fibers can not be consciously controlled.
But the functions you mentioned (breathing, blinking, and facial muscle control) are all somatic (specifically GSE) and not autonomic. But many somatic functions are automated to an extent. There's a circuit in the brainstem that regulates oxygen saturation in the blood and will keep the respiratory system going at a stay rhythm to maintain, but they are skeletal muscles (diaphragm and intercostals) and they are under somatic (GSE) control. A lot of muscles, like postural muscles, have separate spinal cord tracts for the continuous automation of activating those muscles so that you don't simply fall to the floor like a rag doll when you stop thinking about standing up straight, but they're still somatic and you can re-take control at any time you choose.
You'd be surprised how many somatic functions actually require minimal conscious input. Like throwing a ball; you don't usually think about which muscles and how much to contract them and in which order when you throw a ball; you just think about throwing it and where you want it to go. Your cerebellum has the pre-scripted details on how to actually throw (and hit the target), does the internal math and modifies the base plan to hit the intended target and then it just runs that program upon request. But your comciousness doesn't need to perform all of those tasks. You just want to throw the ball. And none of that's autonomic, but it is automatic.