Visualisation of the “Brain within the Heart”

Brain within the Heart

This animation shows the nervous system of a mouse heart – which also exists in the human heart. Stained in green are parasympathetic neurons and nerves, stained in red are sympathetic neurons and nerves.

Together, these two branches of the autonomic nervous system modulate our heart rhythm beat-to-beat. This remarkable network allows our body to adapt to environmental changes – be it an immediate danger (fight or flight) – or relaxation (rest and digest).