Sensory influence on homeostasis and lifespan: molecules and circuits.

The animal's ability to maintain homeostasis in response to different environments can influence its survival. This chapter will discuss the mechanisms by which environmental cues act through sensory pathways to influence hormone secretion and homeostasis. Interestingly, recent studies also show that there is a sensory influence on lifespan that requires the modulation of hormonal signaling activities. Thus, this raises the possibility that the sensory influence on homeostasis underlies the sensory influence on lifespan.