The Emerging Biology of Gut Brain Communication

By Integrative Practitioner Staff

by Emeran A. Mayer

Recent neurobiological insights into gut–brain communication have revealed a complex, bidirectional communication system that not only ensures the proper maintenance of gastrointestinal homeostasis and digestion, but is also likely to have multiple effects on affect, motivation and higher cognitive functions, including intuitive decision making. Moreover, disturbances of this system have been implicated in a wide range of disorders, including functional and inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders, obesity and eating disorders. The concept that the gut and the brain are closely connected and that this interaction plays an important part not only in gastrointestinal function, but also in certain feeling states and in intuitive decision making, is deeply rooted in our language.