The vagus nerve connects our brainstem to the body, facilitating monitoring and control of many automatic functions. The vagus electrically links our gut, lungs and heart to the base of the brain in an evolutionarily-ancient circuit, similar between mammals and also seen in birds, reptiles, and amphibians. In many ways the vagus can be compared to the USB or Firewire connection of your computer. The vagus comprises a major part of the nervous system, contributing to the motor control of important physiological functions such as heart rate and gut motility. The vagus is also sensory, relaying protective visceral information leading to reflexes like cough and indication of lung volume. The vagus has been described as a neural component of the immune reflex. By monitoring changes in the level of control exerted by the vagus, apparent as beat by beat changes of heart rate, it is possible to indirectly view the effect of pharmaceuticals and disease on brainstem function and neural processes underlying consciousness. The paired vagus nerves of humans have different functions, and stimulation of the left vagus has been shown to be a therapeutic treatment for epilepsy and may modulate the perception of pain.

Chris Pomfrett is Lecturer in Neurophysiology applied to Anaesthesia at the University of Manchester, where he has worked since 1990. His research, leading to four patents, includes monitoring physiology to track the level of surgical anaesthesia and the progression of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in cattle (BSE) and humans (vCJD). Chris graduated from the University of London with a B.Sc. in Comparative Physiology with Zoology from Queen Mary College and a Ph.D. from the Medical College of St Bartholomew’s Hospital. Chris has also worked at the University of Keele and as a visiting professor at the University of California, Irvine.

Registration required:

Yes

Free:

No