@Aoi: If nothing else, the dreamcatcher may have put your mind at rest just knowing you were "protected". Like a placebo effect.

@Darkness: The medulla controls the heartbeat. I should learn more about the autonomic nervous system because it is really fascinating. Our bodies do a lot of cool things without us knowing. And there is an answer, certainly! Though it's entirely possible that we haven't found it yet. But we will if we keep looking.