Follow the wandering nerve

In this paper, doctors stimulate the vagus nerve to treat epilepsy, heart failure, stroke, arthritis, and half a dozen other ailments. Stimulation of the vagus nerve sends electric signals up into the brain. The vagus nerve terminates in a structure in the brain stem called the nucleus tractus solitarius. Signals from the vagus nerve are then transmitted to other structures that lead to the release of “inhibitory neurotransmitters” such as gamma-aminobutyric acid, norepinephrine, and serotonin. The neurotransmitters dial down the brain's excitability and lead to corresponding effects in the body.