A new closed-loop, acoustic stimulation technique significantly improves sleep quality and autonomic immune system function, and reduces symptoms of insomnia.
The autonomic nervous system has the ability to spontaneously restore muscle function following nerve injury.
The activation of a neural circuit comprising of the central nucleus of the amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in the first hours following sepsis infection induced anxiety behaviors in mice two weeks after the infection cleared. The behaviors mimicked the PTSD symptoms patients experience following sepsis infection.
Listening to music helps improve mood and decreases anxiety, regardless of the genre. Researchers found listening to music elicits similar autonomic nervous system activation patterns people experience as a result of exercise. Findings reveal clinically significant improvements in well-being and health-related quality of life associated with music engagement.
The "fight or flight" response in those who sleepwalk is significantly lower than in those who sleep soundly at night.
New findings dispute the long-standing belief that exposure to depleted uranium is the cause of Gulf War Syndrome in veterans.
Pupillary response in those with PTSD differs from people who have not experienced traumatic events. The pupils of those with PTSD failed to show sharp constriction caused by light changes, and more enlargement when exposed to emotional stimuli that other participants. Patients with PTSD not only showed an exaggerated response to threatening stimuli but also to stimuli that depicted positive images.
Two months after injecting alpha-synuclein into the intestines of rats, researchers discovered the proteins had traveled to the brain via peripheral nerves. Four months later, the pathology was greater. Additionally, the protein had traveled to the heart. The study supports the hypothesis that Parkinson's disease may begin in the intestinal system before migrating to the brain.
The autonomic nervous system and cortical systems function similarly in low-risk newborns whether they experienced labor and natural birth or were born via elective cesarean section. However, those who were delivered via C-Section following long periods of labor had increased accelerations in heart rate and lower gamma frequency EEG a day after birth than the other two groups.
Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation helps improve sleep patterns and mental health in aging people. The therapy works by increasing parasympathetic activity and decreasing sympathetic activity.
Different social context causes different levels of physiological arousal. However, in every condition, the autonomic nervous system went into synch between strangers, whether in low or high states of arousal.
Researchers report persistent psychological stress can contribute to the development and progression of vision loss.
