Gut feelings: the emerging biology of gut–brain communication : Abstract : Nature Reviews Neuroscience
by Emeran A. Mayer1
Published online 13 July 2011
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. Recent neurobiological insights into this gut–brain crosstalk have revealed a complex, bidirectional communication system that not only ensures the proper maintenance of gastrointestinal homeostasis and digestion but is 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.
Center for Neurobiology of Stress, Division of Digestive Diseases, Departments of Medicine, Physiology and Psychiatry, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CHS 47-122 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90095-7378, USA.
Email: emayer@ucla.edu
