The vagus nerve is why your heart races and stomach curdles when you sense a threat and why your breathing slows and your body relaxes when friends welcome you to their house. The vagus nerve is ...

The vagus nerve not only divides and branches out (its name derives from the Latin word for “wandering”), but it also connects to and interacts with other nerves in the body.

The vagus nerve is one of the biggest nerves connecting your gut and brain. It sends signals in both directions. Your gut and brain are also connected through chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Your stomach knots ... of study were required to grasp its complex anatomy and function. This effort is ongoing: Research on the vagus nerve is at the forefront of neuroscience today.

For the past two years, Dr. Zanos’ team, supported by a NIH SPARC grant, has been mapping the microscopic anatomy of the human vagus nerve. Knowledge gained from the mapping study, along with ...

Q I keep reading about how the vagus nerve has a lot to do with things like mood, digestion and keeping your brain healthy.