Objectives and Methods

Objectives

1. Investigate the physiological changes brought about by thoracic sympathectomy. 
2. Organize and unify the constellation of individual effects into a comprehensive theory.
3. Be accessible to the intelligent layperson, and at the same time serve as a useful resource for the medical professional.

Methods

1. Referencing standard textbooks and current neurophysiology literature, create a theoretical model of the normal human autonomic nervous system, with special emphasis on those parts served by the upper thoracic sympathetic ganglia. Alter the model to reflect a bilateral thoracic sympathectomy, the corposcindosis or CS model.
2. Using the CS model, make a series of predictions about changes in the function of individual target effectors. Compare these predictions to available empirical and anecdotal data.
3. Considering the changes in individual effectors, make a series of predictions about changes to overall systemic function, then compare these predictions to available empirical and anecdotal data.
4. Discuss, offer conclusions and suggestions as to how future clinical study could further our knowledge of the effects of thoracic sympathectomy in humans.