New research from the University Hospitals of Tübingen and Bonn has shown for the first time that non - invasive input of thevagus nervecan tone up the communicating between the belly and the brain , opening up new therapeutic avenues for various disorders andhuman wellness .
The vagus nerve is look at one of the most complex cranial nerves in our primal nervous system because of its central role in human deportment , touch base various corporal signaling with the brain in a " super main road " of connectivity . This nerve is responsible for regulating interior organ functions such as heart rate , respiratory rate , and digestion .
For example , the vagus nerve mettle signals to the brain when the stomach is empty to help support the directive search for food to eat . The nervus plays a central role in digestive mental process and , therefore , the communicating relay via this nerve pathway has significant implications for human health .
" We showed for the first time that electric stimulation strengthens the coupling between signal from the stomach and the brain – and we can do it within a few minutes , " said Professor Nils Kroemer in astatement .
The researchers investigated 31 subjects who underwent vagus nerve stimulant at the spike while at the same time receiving functional magnetic reverberance imaging ( fMRI ) to enter nous energizing . At the same time , electrogastrogram recording were made over their stomach regions to record sign from the digestive tract . They found that vagus nerve spunk arousal increase pairing between the stomach and brain and it was far-flung , specially in field of the brain that commonly connect more strongly with the stomach before the stimulation was applied .
" We keep an eye on that vagus nerve stimulation increase coupling with signals from the belly in the brainstem and midbrain , " explain Kroemer . " These regions are of import because they are the first target area of the vagus nerve nerve in the brain . Changes in the midbrain may already intercede our action . "
The researchers say the young breakthrough could open up newfangled remedial boulevard for depression , obesity , and eating disorders in the future . The findings are reported in the journalBrain Stimulation .
