[The role of vagal afferents in visceral hyperalgesia].

The visceral sensation from the abdomen are delivered continuously to the brain by the vagus nerve, the largest visceral sensory nerve in the body. Although it is commonly assumed that vagal afferents are not involved in nociception and pain, there is growing evidence that they play a complex role in these processes. Vagal afferents may contribute to the effective-emotional rather than to the sensory-disciminative aspect of pain.