Dr Chris Pomfrett
The Royal Institution
Friday 11 April 2008
8.00pm-9.00pm - Good availability
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. 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.
Tickets are free to Ri Full Members, £6 Associate Members and £9 non-members
Posted by: Michael Hill
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