Vagus nerve

https://longcovidatlas.org/glossary/vagus-nerve

In plain language

What it is

The long nerve that carries calming, automatic signals between the brain and the body.

Why it matters

Disrupted vagus signaling is proposed to drive fatigue, gut, and cognitive symptoms.

Think of it like

A two-way cable linking the brain to the heart, gut, and lungs.

For specialists

Formal definition

The tenth cranial nerve mediating parasympathetic tone; implicated via the gut-serotonin axis and autonomic dysfunction in long COVID.

Mechanism

Reduced peripheral serotonin and autonomic injury may impair vagal signaling.

Sources

Serotonin reduction and vagal signaling in post-viral illness (Cell 2023; PMC summary) free full text ›