Is there science behind the ‘nervous system reset’?

Science Friday | Sep 7

On social media, the vagus nerve often gets billed as the gateway to nervous system nirvana: It’s your ticket to better rest, relaxation, and health if you “stimulate” it correctly. Where did this idea come from, and what does the research say?

In March, Host Flora Lichtman talked with neurosurgeon Kevin Tracey, a pioneer of a field called bioelectronic medicine, which uses techniques to stimulate the nervous system with electricity. Back in the 1990s, he was the first to discover that the vagus nerve regulates the immune system and inflammation.

Guest:

Dr. Kevin Tracey is a neurosurgeon, and president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health. He is the author of The Great Nerve.

Transcript will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.

Top Stories

9/11 25 Years Later: Remembering the Ordinary Americans Who Died on 9/11

New Jersey columnist Mike Kelly, tells the stories of ordinary Americans, who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks.
The Brian Lehrer Show |

2026 Fall Schedule Change

WNYC followed up with people whose voices we captured in the aftermath of the September 11th attack to hear their reflections.
WNYC |

Colin Kaepernick, Ten Years After Taking a Knee

In his new memoir, “The Perilous Fight,” the former N.F.L. star recounts the backlash he faced from the league.
The New Yorker Radio Hour |

A Documentary Spotlights the Oldest People in the World

All Of It with Alison Stewart |
YOU ARE ONLINE