The Saad Truth with Dr. Saad Dr. Kevin Tracey - Neurosurgeon and Author of The Great Nerve (The Saad Truth with Dr. Saad_890)
Sep 30, 2025
Dr. Kevin Tracey, a pioneering neurosurgeon and president of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, dives into the fascinating world of the vagus nerve. He explains how it acts as a communication hub between the brain and body, and discusses the current challenges in mapping its pathways compared to brain mapping. Tracey shares insights on bioelectronic medicine, detailing its promise for treating inflammation and how it differs from traditional methods. He also reflects on his transition from clinical practice to research and the importance of human touch in medicine.
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Vagus Nerve As An Information Superhighway
- The vagus nerve is a paired information superhighway connecting brain and body and contains ~200,000 fibers.
- Its signals coordinate organ reflexes and fundamentally help keep you healthy.
Fiber-Level Maps Are Largely Missing
- Fiber-specific mapping of the human vagus nerve is currently essentially zero at the single-fiber level.
- Labs are now building 3D molecular maps from cadaver nerves and animal models to change that.
Few Fibers Can Control Big Functions
- Critical vagal functions can be controlled by surprisingly few fibers (e.g., ~100 for breathing in mice).
- In humans, inflammation control may rely on only a few hundred to <1,000 vagal fibers.
