Unlock Your Inner Heart Hero: Virtual Lab Cardiovascular Challenge 2026!

Extreme stimulation of the vagus nerve leads to a significant decrease in heart rate, a condition known as vagal inhibition or vagal tone. The vagus nerve is a key component of the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes the rest-and-digest response. When the vagus nerve is stimulated intensely, it releases acetylcholine, which binds to receptors on the heart, slowing down the heart rate by decreasing the conduction of electrical impulses through the sinoatrial node.

In cases of extreme stimulation, this effect can be profound enough to potentially lead to bradycardia (extremely slow heart rate) or even compete to the point of asystole, where the heart may stop beating altogether. The action of the vagus nerve serves to counterbalance the sympathetic nervous system, which typically increases heart rate. Therefore, the physiological outcome of extreme vagal stimulation directly aligns with the option indicating that the heart rate decreases and can stop.