Fainting, or syncope, happens to nearly 40% of people at some point in their lives.
It's when you briefly lose consciousness. This can be caused by different things like pain, fear, or overheating.
Scientists have figured out the genetic pathway between the heart and brain that's linked to fainting.
How they discovered it
They looked at the heart as a sensory organ, not just something that follows the brain's orders.
They found that the heart also sends signals to the brain, which can change how the brain works.
The researchers focused on something called the Bezold-Jarisch reflex (BJR), which affects the heart rate and blood pressure.
They thought it might be linked to fainting. They looked at a group of neurons in the body called vagal sensory neurons.
These neurons send signals between the brain and organs like the heart.
They found a specific group of these neurons, known as NPY2R, that are connected to the BJR responses.
When they activated these neurons in mice, the mice fainted. They saw changes in the brain's activity and the heart's behavior.
Why it's important
This discovery is important because it shows that the body isn't just following the brain's lead.
The body can also send important signals to the brain. This could help us understand fainting better and find new ways to treat it.
The researchers want to keep studying how and when these neurons get triggered into action.
They also want to look more closely at the brain's blood flow during fainting to learn even more about this common but puzzling condition.
