Your heart has its own ‘little brain’: Study reveals how the heart works surprisingly like the brain

The heart is a complex organ and many mysteries are hidden in it. Previously, the nervous system of the heart was thought to be merely a relay system, acting on signals transmitted from the brain to monitor and regulate heartbeats. However, a study published in Nature Communications found that the complex neuron network in the heart does much more than previously understood.

cardiovascular nervous system

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Columbia University in New York called the heart’s internal nervous system the intracardiac nervous system. Apart from controlling the heart rate, it has an even more active contribution. It was understood that the heart received instructions only from the brain which in turn controlled the heartbeat.

However, this groundbreaking study revealed that the heart’s nervous system is far more independent. It can generate its own rhythms and regulate itself beyond the instructions of the brain. The heart is more under control than before. It’s almost as if the heart has ‘its own little brain’. The brain does not micromanage every part of the organ’s function.

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Neuron mimics pacemaker

The researchers examined zebrafish, whose heart is strangely similar to the human heart in terms of structure and function. By focusing on the sinoatrial plexus (SAP), a key area of ​​the heart that acts as the heart’s pacemaker, the scientists uncovered different types of neurons. These neurons communicate using several different neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, glutamate, and serotonin, indicating a level of local control over the heartbeat that was not previously fully understood.

The researchers called it the most surprising part of their discovery when they realized that neurons in the heart had pacemaker-like properties. This creates rhythmic electrical patterns, similar to the way the brain and spinal cord control and coordinate activities such as walking and breathing.

This indicates that the heart’s nervous system does not simply passively follow the brain’s orders. Instead, it actively participates in maintaining the heartbeat. The discovery is important because it opens the door to medical treatments, especially for arrhythmias and other heart problems, and to further understanding heart function.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.