part Part I Development and Plasticity -- chapter 1 The Embryology of Vagal Sensory Neurons / chapter 2 Vagal Afferent Neurons: Neurotrophic Factors and Epigenetic Influences -- part Part II Vagal Sensory Ganglion Neurons -- chapter 3 Voltage-Gated Ion Channels in Vagal Afferent Neurons -- chapter 4 Electrophysiological Studies of Target-Identified Vagal Afferent Cell Bodies -- part Part III Vagal Sensory Nerve Terminals -- chapter 5 Advances in Neural Tracing of Vagal Afferent Nerves and Terminals -- chapter 6 Mechanotransduction by Vagal Tension Receptors in the Upper Gut -- chapter 7 Chemical Transduction in Vagal Afferent Nerve Endings -- part Part IV Connection in the CNS -- chapter 8 Synaptic Transmission in the Nucleus Tractus Solitarius (NTS) -- chapter 9 Nitroxergic Modulation in the NTS: Implications for Cardiovascular Function -- chapter 10 Monoaminergic Modulation in the Brainstem: Implication for Airway Function -- part Part V Organ-Specific Afferent Nerves -- chapter 11 Bronchopulmonary Vagal Afferent Nerves -- chapter 12 Vagal Afferents Innervating the Gastrointestinal Tract -- chapter 13 Cardiac Vagal Afferent Nerves -- part Part VI Vagal Reflexes and Sensation -- chapter 14 Vagal Afferent Nerve Stimulated Reflexes in the GI Tract -- chapter 15 Reflexes Initiated by Activation of the Vagal Afferent Nerves Innervating the Airways and Lungs -- chapter 16 Axon Reflex and Neurogenic Inflammation in Vagal Afferent Nerves -- chapter 17 Vagal Afferents and Visceral Pain -- chapter 18 Electrical Stimulation of the Vagus Nerve for the Treatment of Epilepsy.