Extreme or prolonged stress can profoundly alter both brain and body physiology, increasing susceptibility to conditions such as PTSD, panic disorder, and metabolic dysfunction. Stress acts through the autonomic nervous system, which includes:

• the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), responsible for “fight or flight” responses
• the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), responsible for “rest and digest” processes

Chronic sympathetic activation can disrupt neuronal and astrocytic function, alter neuropeptide and neurotransmitter signaling, and impair cardiac, respiratory, metabolic, and immune systems.

The vagus nerve—often called the “wandering nerve”—is a central parasympathetic pathway connecting the brain to thoracic and abdominal organs. It regulates autonomic, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, immune, and endocrine functions. Vagus nerve stimulation, whether through implanted devices or mind–body practices such as yoga and breathwork, has shown therapeutic promise in modulating stress and restoring physiological stability.

The BrainBody Lab is committed to understanding how these brain–body pathways shape responses to traumatic stress. Our research addresses three central questions:

1. How does the brain–vagus–body axis influence fear and stress responses?
2. What mechanisms link traumatic stress to metabolic syndrome and energy imbalance?
3. How do astrocytes contribute to fear regulation, stress responses, and cardiorespiratory control?

To answer these questions, we employ a range of advanced techniques including optogenetics, chemogenetics, genetically modified mouse models, intersectional viral strategies, telemetry-based cardiorespiratory tracking, and validated behavioral paradigms for traumatic stress and fear.