Gut-brain communication – how the stomach and brain communicate
The stomach is the portal to the digestive tract. It tells the brain about its state: how full it is, what is the nature of its contents, are any toxins present.
The brain reacts by eliciting feelings of hunger, satiety, fullness, nausea or wellness. In turn, the brain tells the stomach what to do, after integrating information coming from the stomach and other information, including the sight, smell and proximity of food. For example, the brain can tell the stomach to increase volume to receive food, to mix food, to secrete acid or expel contents.
Aim
- Investigate the communication between the brain and the stomach, essential for a healthy life.
Research team
Supervisor
Members
- Madeleine Di Natale
Research group
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