"New research from Karolinska Institutet and Columbia University shows that the heart has a mini-brain – its own nervous system that controls the heartbeat. A better understanding of this system, which is much more diverse and complex than previously thought, could lead to new treatments for heart diseases.

The study, conducted on zebrafish, is published in Nature Communications."

(The researchers were able to map out the composition, organisation and function of neurons within the heart using a combination of methods such as single-cell RNA sequencing, anatomical studies and electrophysiological techniques. Credit: Neuroscience News)

"The heart has long been thought to be controlled solely by the autonomic nervous system, which transmits signals from the brain. The heart’s neural network, which is embedded in the superficial layers of the heart wall, has been considered a simple structure that relays the signals from the brain. However, recent research suggests that it has a more advanced function than that.

Controlling the heartbeat

Scientists have now discovered that the heart has its own complex nervous system that is crucial to controlling its rhythm.

“This ‘little brain’ has a key role in maintaining and controlling the heartbeat, similar to how the brain regulates rhythmic functions such as locomotion and breathing,” explains Konstantinos Ampatzis, principal researcher and docent at the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, who led the study.

The researchers identified several types of neurons in the heart that have different functions, including a small group of neurons with pacemaker properties. The finding challenges the current view on how the heartbeat is controlled, which may have clinical implications.

Similar to the human heart

“We were surprised to see how complex the nervous system within the heart is,” says Konstantinos Ampatzis.

“Understanding this system better could lead to new insights into heart diseases and help develop new treatments for diseases such as arrhythmias.”

The study was conducted on zebrafish, an animal model that exhibits strong similarities to human heart rate and overall cardiac function. The researchers were able to map out the composition, organisation and function of neurons within the heart using a combination of methods such as single-cell RNA sequencing, anatomical studies and electrophysiological techniques."

Slight tw for picture!!

⚠️*potentially triggering for anyone dealing with loss or grief.* ⚠️

I'm still alive. Another one of my fur babies aren't. The last 2 weeks have been BEYOND stressful with one of my cats needing and emergency visits to the vet and surgery... Her sister FINALLY getting better from a cold (so I thought).. and then BOOM just gone.. More like, silence, followed by immense sadness/emptiness. This year has been beyond hard with the passing of my family members, fur babies, and everything else going on medically/monetarily. I don't feel like I'm actually here but stress reminds me.

I haven't been doing so good medically speaking it's been really hard to read and write or get any thoughts out clearly. I can't grieve correctly because my heart so it just shuts off then I feel anger for a second and nothing again (because too much emotion causes my heart to go more out of rhythm causing stabbing pains, and a bunch of other stupid stuff..).. I don't care about me medically speaking anymore (the doctor's refuse to help and I keep getting run around. I don't have energy anymore) I have been trying my hardest to edit the videos I started editing before all this went down with my babies 🐾💔😿.. I'm pushing myself so hard to don't feel like I exist, if I didn't know better I'd think I were a Sim that someone keeps putting tasks on. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm here but I'm not here. I'm trying my hardest not to bring anyone down with me. It's hard to be honest/truthful without being sad. I'm just trying to keep on keeping on and give some form of normalcy to my other fur babies/family. Smiles are getting harder to find/come by. I have lots of worry, sadness, I feel anxious, and then I feel nothing, not even cold. I debate on completely erasing all of this.. But I've already done that twice. You actually cared enough to ask, so this is my 'thank you' in a form a truthful response. (My justification for bringing anyone's eyes who happen to see this, down)

I'm not doing the best, I haven't been for awhile. (So long I can't even remember the duration of that, "while" ) .. I'll put on a happy face like always and push all my thoughts to the back of my mind. Before things got worse I was just starting to practice singing again (trying to really force myself for the first time since Fluffy is gone .. 💔.. ) since someone asked to me to do a cover on YT .. I used to love singing he'd purr and purr and it made me feel so special and loved and happy.. i just want to feel happy again and not be afraid it'll be gone the second I have it. I'm afraid to get excited about things now because every time I do.. you know how the saying goes, "Expectations only lead to failures"..

I don't see a future for me. I asked myself, "Where do you think you'll be in 5-10 years?" .. I can honestly say that I'm disappointed with myself I don't care about my medical excuses. Where was I 10 years ago? .. I was 17.. For the first time in my life I actually thought I was, "cool" and felt comfortable in my own skin. I started wearing the clothes I wanted to wear for the first time even though (in my own opinion/bullies ) I was too fat.. I was my own person, I had my own job, I cooked, cleaned, listened to my own music, and most importantly.. I was making my own music. I was practicing guitar everyday, singing, and answering questions like mad on Ask.fm..

10 years ago I thought I was gonna, "be somebody" (like everyone does at some point in their lives).. My medical issues got extremely worse that year I was 17. Water was found around my heart at the hospital and TWO separate primary care doctors told me, "you're to young for a cardiologist" and REFUSED to send me to one .. fast forward to 19 years old, I no longer can work, I'm going blind from time to time, extreme confusion, weakness beyond belief, and ultimately being hospitalized with sepsis because my body can no longer fight infection on its own.. I stayed inside most the time at this point and worked very sparingly until I had to push myself because money was tight.. back in the hospital 3 more times on and off.. fast forward AGAIN to 22 years old where they chemically stopped my heart then brought me back to life TWUCE to tell me, "you need a cardiologist and we're setting you up with one"... I go to the cardio apt. To be put on medication that's, "temporary" until we can find what's wrong with me .. MANY, MANY, tests later (including a random optometrist apt where I was told for a FACT I have delayed vision in my left eye.. indicating a neurological issue).. I end up going to several neurologists (one of which shocked me.. a heart patient... Which then sent me to the ER with a "cardiac event" or in UC Davis's words a, "technical heart attack" with scaring on the heart and all as proof.. that happened when I was 24? I can't remember.. Now I'm 27, I feel like a loser because I can't mentally comprehend phonecalls, video is extremely difficult for me to understand to the point video calling is impossible. I'm embarrassed at how I need help with everything.. I can't even remember to take my meds (even with my alarms..) so I'm a burden on my family and they basically have to take care of me like I'm a baby again.. their 27 year old baby.. My family say they don't mind because they love me and know I would do the same .. I try my hardest to give what I can.. All I have on my person is my heart/love.. I know it's not much at of anything but I really am trying so hard to just be some kind of normal. I'm not doing a very good job but at least I'm still trying.

Long story EXTREMELY long, I needed sometime to recuperate.. Thank you for asking and I'm sorry it's an essay, if you actually read to this point here's your obligatory cookie 🍪 🥹🤗

Since I won't be able to post about her for awhile.. I love you so much Little Baby Bear 💔💔💔🐾🐾🐾🐾 see you again someday I hope.

I try to keep it light hearted but that's the truth. Speaking of lighthearted and trying to go back to normalcy.. Tomorrow a shorter video will be out on YT. Then on Saturday a long one. I hope you're having a good day (sorry again about potentially bringing you down with my truth.. I'll try not to talk about it again in detail anytime soon.. so you don't have to worry about me being consistently melancholic in your feed) :)

*Hugs* and I hope you and your family are having the best days