The society was founded in 1995,[1][2] because it was felt that the key international society covering neuroscience, the International Brain Research Organization, was not sufficiently representing research on this part of the nervous system.

Elsewhere, it has been claimed that the society originated because of the Journal of Autonomic Neuroscience,[3] presumably because discussions amongst the early editors identified lack of scientific exchange, at an international level, amongst researchers in the field.

Initially, scientific meetings were organized every 3 years, before settling into a biennial pattern.

Meetings have been held in Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, France, Brazil, Germany and Italy.

This journal publishes the congress abstracts and supports student poster and presentation prizes.