vagal

American  

[vey-guhl] / ˈveɪ gəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a vagus nerve.

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vagal British  

/ ˈveɪɡəl /

adjective

1. anatomy of, relating to, or affecting the vagus nerve

   vagal inhibition

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Etymology

Origin of vagal

First recorded in 1850–55; vag(us) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

A study coordinated by the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa and published in Science Translational Medicine found that maintaining vagal nerve connections to the heart on both sides helps slow the aging process.

From Science Daily • Jan. 1, 2026

Modulating SUMOylation -- either through vagal nerve stimulation or treatment with a SUMOylation inhibitor -- could open the door to IBD therapies that focus on managing inflammation directly, rather than alleviating symptoms.

From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2024

“Goosebumps, tears, vagal tone, default mode network deactivation, vocalizations, body postures. I mean, man, we can measure it, and that in its own right some people would not have predicted.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 18, 2024

“Goosebumps, tears, vagal tone, default mode network deactivation, vocalizations, body postures. I mean, man, we can measure it, and that in its own right, some people would not have predicted.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 18, 2024

Initial maximal vagal stimulation: Expected results: inhibition of heart beat.

From On Handling the Data by Mayfield, M. I.