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The research, led by Professor Jim Deuchars, provides evidence that the neck muscles could play a crucial role in influencing brain regions which control the autonomic functions.

Chiropractors have long suggested that tackling pain by manipulating and cracking the neck can also lower blood pressure. But until now the reasons were not clear.

Prof Deuchars said: "Reports from chiropractic journals say that manipulating the neck region helps to reduce blood pressure in some people. By identifying the pathways we can see why these treatments might work and it could also explain why some people suffering whiplash injuries may experience a change in their blood pressure.

"The work also contributes to understanding postural hypotension - fainting which can be caused by standing up too fast. The neck muscles could be a part of the system which normally prevents this from happening by sending signals to the brain upon neck movement that posture has changed."

The area of the brain where the signals from the neck terminate were first identified by "Godfather of Neuroscience" Ramon y Cajal, more than 100 years ago. New techniques allowed the Leeds team to study what happened after these signals arrived.

Prof Deuchars, of Systems Neuroscience in the University of Leeds' Institute of Membrane and Systems Biology, said: "Cells in the area that receive neck signals jumped out at us when we labelled sections with particular markers. We wanted to know how these cells were organised and the other brain regions to which they were connected."

The team, which includes researchers from Japan and Hungary, found a link between these cells and the nucleus tractus solitarius, an area of the brain that is pivotal in control of autonomic functions.

The scientists propose that nervous signals from the neck could play a key role in ensuring that adequate blood supply is maintained to the brain as people change posture, such as from lying down to standing up. Where such signalling fails, people can suffer problems with balance and blood pressure.