Friday, December 20, 2019

Vagus

The mysterious nerve network that quiets pain and stress — and may defeat disease

Illustration: Kieran Blakey
TTake a deep breath. Hug a friend. Reach for the ceiling and stretch your limbs. Each of these simple acts bestows a sense of calm and comfort. And each works its soothing magic in part by activating a complicated system of nerves that connects the brain to the heart, the gut, the immune system, and many of the organs. That system is known collectively as the vagus nerve.

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