Inner peace can sound so nebulous, which is one reason I love learning about the workings of the brain and the science of  the mind. So I'll be bringing you periodic science breaks, where we dig into some of the science behind why we are how we are.

To help with these science breaks, I'm joined by my friend and fellow journalist Branimir Kvartuc. He's not as much of a science nerd as I am, but he's curious and enthusiastic, so he's a wonderful sounding board for these concepts.

In this episode, we talk about the vagus nerve, a cranial nerve that links the brain with the gut and is a channel to the parasympathetic nervous system -- the rest-and-digest system -- which is the opposite of the stress-induced fight-or-flight response.

Also, we clearly do not know what we're talking about when it comes to "The Hulk."

Here's a recent scientific study about the functions of the vagus nerve.

You can find Branimir on Instagram @Branimir.

Thank you Michael Kobrin for the music!

What do you think about the vagus nerve? Please let me know, or just pop by to say hi! I'm on Instagram @YouKnowSandy (same handle on Twitter) or at innerpeacetogo.com.

What do you need to feel more peaceful? Let me know! I'm on Instagram @thesandycohen and at innerpeacetogo.com.

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