Afferent fibers simultaneously deliver nerve stimulus back to the surface of the inner ear, and to the acoustic nuclei of the brain stem--the initial sound sensory region of the brain.
A prolonged somatic irritant, such as low back pain, that acts on afferent fibers from the gastrointestinal tract might inhibit sensations of visceral pain and lead to bowel motility disorders.
Modifying sensations around the anorectal region can inhibit faecal incontinence by stimulating the afferent fibers, whereas stimulation of efferent fibers can induce voiding by stimulating contraction of the region.