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Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a medical treatment that involves delivering electrical impulses to the vagus nerve. It is used as an add-on treatment for certain types of intractable epilepsy , cluster headaches, treatment-resistant depression and stroke rehabilitation.
A vagal maneuver is an action used to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system by activating the vagus nerve.The vagus nerve is the longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system and helps regulate many critical aspects of human physiology, including heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, and digestion through the release of acetylcholine.
Measurements of vagal tone can be performed by means of either invasive or noninvasive procedures. Invasive procedures are in the minority and include vagus nerve stimulation by specific manual, breathing or electrical techniques. Noninvasive techniques mainly rely on the investigation of heart rate and heart rate variability. [4] [5] [6]
The vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, often called the “rest and digest” system because it helps the body relax after periods of stress and regulates bodily functions ...
Vagus nerve stimulation can also increase the release of important brain chemicals such as serotonin and norepinephrine, which help regulate mood and are typically low in people with depression ...
The vagus nerve is also responsible for regulating inflammation in the body, via the inflammatory reflex. [7] Efferent vagus nerve fibers innervating the pharynx and back of the throat are responsible for the gag reflex. In addition, 5-HT 3 receptor-mediated afferent vagus stimulation in the gut due to gastroenteritis is a cause of vomiting. [8]
Stimulation of the efferent vagus nerve slows heart rate, induces gastrointestinal motility, and inhibits TNF production in spleen. [1] Stimulation of the efferent pathway of the vagus nerve releases acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter which interacts with the α7 subunit of the nicotinic AChR (α7 nAChR). nAChR is expressed on the cell ...
Vagovagal reflex refers to gastrointestinal tract reflex circuits where afferent and efferent fibers of the vagus nerve [1] coordinate responses to gut stimuli via the dorsal vagal complex in the brain. The vagovagal reflex controls contraction of the gastrointestinal muscle layers in response to distension of the tract by food.