The gut-brain axis
Welcome! I'm so excited to explore the fascinating world of the gut-brain axis with you. To help me tailor this session to your needs, what is your current interest in the gut-brain axis? (e.g., are you a student, interested for personal health reasons, or just generally curious?)
I am just generally curious about how it works.
It is great to have you here! Since you are curious about how this all works, we will start from the ground up, looking at how your brain and your digestive system talk to each other.
Your path
Mechanisms of Communication
Impact on Health and Behavior
Supporting a Healthy Axis
What is the Gut-Brain Axis?
At its simplest, the is a two-way communication superhighway that connects your central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord) with your gastrointestinal tract.
We often think of our brain as the sole boss of the body, sending down executive orders to our organs. But when it comes to digestion, the conversation is completely bidirectional. Your brain is constantly listening to your gut, and your gut is constantly listening to your brain.
Think about what happens when you feel nervous before a big presentation and suddenly get "butterflies" in your stomach, or feel physically sick. That is your brain sending stress signals down to your digestive tract. On the flip side, if your gut is inflamed or irritated, it can send distress signals upward that actually alter your mood, making you feel anxious or irritable.