“This network is involved in emotion, mood and self-processing.”Our fight-or-flight response is mediated by the vagus nerve, which releases the neurotransmitter acetylcholine onto agitated organs to slow them down, Badran said. 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, Sasaki said. “The vagus nerve also helps control inflammation in the body,” higher levels of which have been linked to depression, Sasaki added. The future of treating resistant depressionThe trial participants continue to be monitored, and data on their ongoing results may become available over the coming years. Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly referred to the size of the vagus nerve.

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Persons: Nick Fournie, Fournie, “, ’, Nick, Mary, ” Mary, ”, Dr, Bashar Badran, ” Nick, Charles Conway, Conway, St . Louis, don’t, Mary Fournie, VNS, LivaNova, ” Conway, Badran, wasn’t, ” Badran, Takuya Sasaki, Sasaki wasn’t, Sarah Lisanby, Lisanby, Sasaki, you’re, Nils Kroemer, Kroemer wasn’t Organizations: CNN, US Food and Drug Administration, Medical University of South, Center, Advancement of Research, Washington University, US Centers, Medicare, FDA, CMS, Montgomery, Tohoku University, Division, Intramural Research, US National Institute of Mental Health, Centers, Services, University of Bonn Locations: Illinois, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, St ., United States, Phoenix, MADRAS, Japan, Germany