Vagus Nerve actions
Our Vagus nerve acts as the central switchboard and gateway between the CNS and ENS, acting as a bioinformational data bus that routes the impulses going through in both directions. Impaired functioning can lead to different conditions and problems.
Command neurons control the pattern of activity in the gut. The vagus nerve only alters the volume by changing its rates of firing. Fear also causes the vagus nerve to “turn up the volume” on serotonin circuits in the gut, and prepare the body to fight/flight.
The stomach contains many sensory nerves that are stimulated by this chemical surge (“butterflies”). On the battlefield, the higher brain tells the gut brain to shut down. A frightened running animal appears not to stop to defecate.
Thus over stimulated, the gut goes into higher gear and diarrhea results. Similarly, people sometimes “choke” with emotion. When nerves in the esophagus are highly stimulated, people have trouble swallowing.
Research indicates that a healthy vagus nerve is vital in experiencing empathy and fostering social bonding, and it is crucial to our ability to observe, perceive, and make complex decisions. Tests revealed that people with impaired vagal activity have also been diagnosed with depression, panic disorders, and PTSD, etc.
Scientific evidence suggests that both laughing, sobbing, and yoga practices are extremely beneficial for our health, through the increase in vagal stimulation.
