Science Weekly Why are scientists so excited about the vagus nerve? – podcast
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Aug 31, 2023 Explore the potential of the vagus nerve in transforming physical and mental health. Discover how it controls inflammation, disease, and bodily functions. Learn about electrical stimulation to treat epileptic seizures. Find out how the vagus nerve can activate immune cells, reduce inflammation, and control the immune system. Exciting research on rheumatoid arthritis and long covid-associated fatigue.
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Ear Stimulation Experiment
- Linda Geddes experiments with a vagus nerve stimulation device worn on the ear.
- She describes the sensation as a tingling, not unpleasant but annoying.
Vagus Nerve Function
- The vagus nerve is a two-way communication channel between the brain and various organs.
- It controls involuntary processes like breathing, heart rate, digestion, and immune responses.
Medical History of Vagus Nerve Stimulation
- 19th-century scientists found that stimulating the vagus nerve could treat epileptic seizures.
- This led to the development of implanted electrical stimulators in the 1980s.