Uncovering the Built-In Mind-Body Connection in the Brain

Researchers have discovered a connection between the brain areas controlling movement and those involved in thinking, planning, and involuntary bodily functions like blood pressure and heartbeat, suggesting a literal linkage between body and mind in the brain’s structure. This newly identified network is called the Somato-Cognitive Action Network (SCAN). The study may help explain phenomena such as anxiety-induced pacing, the effects of vagus nerve stimulation on depression, and the positive outlook reported by regular exercisers.