The sympathetic nervous system was thought to have evolved with jawed vertebrates. But lampreys—jawless, parasitic fish that suck out the blood of their hosts—have a simple one, per recent research.

Heart rate variability (HRV) typically increases with parasympathetic activation (rest-and-digest response) and decreases with sympathetic activation (fight-or-flight response). The autonomic nervous ...

A new study explores the association between parasympathetic activity and pain sensitivity in autistic adults, suggesting a potential protective role.

We all know that feeling when nature calls – but what’s far less understood is the psychology behind it. Why, for example, do we get the urge to pee just before getting into the shower, or when we’re ...

You can’t help when your fight-or-flight instinct kicks in—but you can handle how your body responds to everyday stressors. Have you ever heard of the mammalian diving reflex? It’s a natural response ...

Want to improve your health on a truly deep level? The practice of yoga—including pranayama (breath control) and meditation—has been proven to improve the function of the entire nervous system, which ...