The sympathetic nervous system was thought to have evolved with jawed vertebrates. But lampreys—jawless, parasitic fish that suck out the blood of their hosts—have a simple one, per recent research.

In my 2022 book, The Bullied Brain, I explore how the bullying and abuse cycle has at its core a stress response. When the brain, nervous system, and body feel seriously threatened, they often ...

What is sympathetic joy? Imagine how a loving parent feels seeing their child giggle in playful delight, or rock their spotlight in the school play. Sympathetic joy is about feeling uplifted, ...