The neurobiology of gut feelings

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qasim Aziz ◽  
James K. Ruffle
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sensory Neurons ◽  
Information Transfer ◽  
Gastrointestinal Function ◽  
Afferent Neurons ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cortical Areas ◽  
Gut Feelings ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
The Brain

“It’s a gut feeling.” Indeed, how and why do we get “gut feelings?” After the brain, the gut is the second most innervated bodily organ, diffusely interconnected with gastrointestinal afferent neurons. Whilst sensory neurons from the gut ascend by means of the spinal cord and vagal nerve to subcortical and higher cortical areas of the brain, caudally descending motor efferents from brain to gut seek to modulate gastrointestinal function. Such is the construct of the “brain–gut axis,” a bi-directional body nexus permitting constant information transfer between both brain and gut so as to provide us with visceral interoception. This chapter reviews the neurobiology of gut feelings and discuss their role in both physical and mental health and disease.

scholarly journals Epigenetics, Evolution, Endocrine Disruption, Health, and Disease

Endocrinology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 147 (6) ◽  
pp. s4-s10 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Crews ◽  
John A. McLachlan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Endocrine Disruption ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Risk Levels ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting ◽  
Increase Risk ◽  
Health And Disease

Abstract Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment have been linked to human health and disease. This is particularly evident in compounds that mimic the effects of estrogens. Exposure to EDCs early in life can increase risk levels of compromised physical and mental health. Epigenetic mechanisms have been implicated in this process. Transgenerational consequences of EDC exposure is also discussed in both a proximate (mechanism) and ultimate (evolution) context as well as recent work suggesting how such transmission might become incorporated into the genome and subject to selection. We suggest a perspective for exploring and ultimately coming to understand diseases that may have environmental or endocrine origins.

scholarly journals What is Interoception and Why is it Important?

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Barker ◽  
Rebecca Brewer ◽  
Jennifer Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
The Body ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Heart Beating ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Brain

What is the word for the sense of signals that come from inside your body, such as feeling your heart beating and your breathing, or knowing when you are hungry? This is called interoception. Interoception is one of our senses, like vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. In this article, we talk about what interoception is and how information about these feelings is sent from the body to the brain. We will also talk a little about how interoception is measured and the different types of interoception. Finally, we will discuss why interoception might be important for things like recognising emotions in ourselves and in other people, our physical and mental health, and why understanding how interoception changes throughout our lives might help us to understand where differences in interoception across different people come from.

4. Risk factors

2020 ◽  
pp. 74-104
Author(s):  
Kathleen Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Sugar ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Physiological Factors ◽  
Cause And Effect ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Brain

Would everyone get dementia if we lived long enough? ‘Risk factors’ focuses on the genetic, environmental, and physiological factors that makes dementia more or less likely to affect us. The media often distorts scientific findings with false correlations. We must be aware of these ourselves, particularly in relation to cause and effect; a factor that we may see as a cause of dementia might be a symptom. Risk factors include age, overall poor physical and mental health, blood sugar, blood and brain function, inflammation, and not using the brain. Many of these can be modified, even the effects of ageing, but there is no single cause or one-size-fits-all solution.

scholarly journals The Dutch Microbiome Project defines factors that shape the healthy gut microbiome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Gacesa ◽  
A. Kurilshikov ◽  
A. Vich Vila ◽  
T. Sinha ◽  
M.A.Y. Klaassen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Generational Cohort ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Bacterial Composition ◽  
Associated Bacteria ◽  
Health And Disease

AbstractThe gut microbiome is associated with diverse diseases, but the universal signature of an (un)healthy microbiome remains elusive and there is a need to understand how genetics, exposome, lifestyle and diet shape the microbiome in health and disease. To fill this gap, we profiled bacterial composition, function, antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in the gut microbiomes of 8,208 Dutch individuals from a three-generational cohort comprising 2,756 families. We then correlated this to 241 host and environmental factors, including physical and mental health, medication use, diet, socioeconomic factors and childhood and current exposome. We identify that the microbiome is primarily shaped by environment and cohousing. Only ∼13% of taxa are heritable, which are enriched with highly prevalent and health-associated bacteria. By identifying 2,856 associations between microbiome and health, we find that seemingly unrelated diseases share a common signature that is independent of comorbidities. Furthermore, we identify 7,519 associations between microbiome features and diet, socioeconomics and early life and current exposome, of which numerous early-life and current factors are particularly linked to the microbiome. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive overview of gut microbiome and the underlying impact of heritability and exposures that will facilitate future development of microbiome-targeted therapies.

Mental and physical gradualism in Graeco-Roman medicine

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orly Lewis ◽  
Chiara Thumiger ◽  
Philip van der Eijk
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Roman Medicine

The aim of this chapter is to explore how ancient medical ideas offer relevant parallels to the modern notions of degree vagueness and combinatorial vagueness with respect to mental health and its management. By closely examining several key examples, this chapter argues that Graeco-Roman physicians recognized physical and mental health as states that admit of gradation and were aware of the nuances, variations, and even the relativity of the distinction between ‘healthy’ and ‘ill’. When it comes to notions of physical and mental health, these nuances are both quantitative and qualitative. One of the characteristics of Graeco-Roman medicine is the consideration given to a body–mind continuum as something that is subject to health and disease and can be the object of medical attention. Section 2 introduces ancient conceptions of physical health and demonstrates the relevance of degree and combinatorial vagueness in this domain. Section 3 focuses on mental health.

Some Experiments in the Chemistry of Normal Sleep

1966 ◽  
Vol 112 (485) ◽  
pp. 391-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Oswald ◽  
G. W. Ashcroft ◽  
R. J. Berger ◽  
D. Eccleston ◽  
J. I. Evans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Brain Stem ◽  
Eye Movement ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Reticular Activating System ◽  
Normal Sleep ◽  
Biochemical State ◽  
The Brain

Sleep is essential for physical and mental health. In the last 15 years there has grown up the concept of the brain stem reticular activating system. Electroencephalographic studies have shown two qualitatively different and alternating kinds of sleep, the orthodox (“slow wave”, or “forebrain“) and the paradoxical (”hind-brain“, “rapid eye movement”, “activated“, or “dreaming”) phases (Akert et al., 1965). It may be predicted that in the next decade attention will turn increasingly to the chemical basis of sleep. If a man is deprived of sleep for 100 hours, it is extremely difficult to keep him awake and one may suppose that an abnormal biochemical state exists within his central nervous system.

scholarly journals Probiotics in human mental health and diseases - A minireview

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 889-895
Author(s):  
Bhagavathi Sundaram Sivamaruthi ◽  
Mani Iyer Prasanth ◽  
Periyanaina Kesika ◽  
Chaiyavat Chaiyasut
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Food Supplementation ◽  
Neuronal System ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
The Brain

In humans, cognitive functions are controlled by the central nervous system, which is controlled by the brain. Any damage to the neuronal system causes serious impairment to the host as it may lead to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, autism and epilepsy. The physical and mental health of an individual is associated with food habits and brain health. The hypothalamus is the region of the brain that initiates a response to different types of stress. However, recent findings have revealed that food play a major role in regulating stress and mental health. In this regard, probiotics are beneficial microbes that are claimed to offer health benefits when consumed in adequate quantities. Probiotics alter the gut microbial composition in a positive way. Several in vitro, in vivo and pre-clinical studies have been conducted to determine the effects of probiotics or probiotic based food supplementation on the cognitive function of model system and human volunteers. Most of the studies suggest that the consumption of probiotic formulations improves cognitive function, stress management, and decision-making. This paper reviews recent findings regarding the influence of probiotic supplementation on cognitive function, especially in human subjects. The role of probiotics in maintaining healthy gut microbiota and detailed outcomes of clinical trials are here reported for easy understanding of the concept. However, more studies involving clinical trials are still required in the field of probiotics and cognitive function.

scholarly journals Molecular dynamics of neuronal information transfer

Neuroforum ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. A73-A84
Author(s):  
Martin Heine ◽  
Arthur Bikbaev
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Information Transfer ◽  
Postsynaptic Membrane ◽  
Synaptic Activity ◽  
Optical Methods ◽  
Stochastic Motion ◽  
Lateral Dynamics ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
The Brain

Abstract A detailed analysis of synapses as connecting elements between neurons is of central importance to understand the brain’s cognitive performance and its constraints. Nowadays, state-of-the-art optical methods make possible to localize individual molecules in a living cell. In particular, the dynamics of molecular composition can be evaluated in smallest neuronal compartments, such as pre- and postsynaptic membrane. The monitoring of the distribution of receptors, ion channels, and adhesion molecules over time revealed their continuous stochastic motion. This is surprising, since the synapses are considered as accumulation sites anchoring these molecules. The direct manipulation of the lateral dynamics of glutamate receptors, in combination with classical electrophysiological approaches, demonstrated that such molecular dynamics is necessary for the induction of synaptic plasticity and, in turn, is influenced by synaptic activity. Therefore, the molecular dynamics requires further studies in the context of the brain function in health and disease.

scholarly journals Brain plasticity

2020 ◽  
pp. 68-76
Author(s):  
А.А. Пальцын ◽  
Н.Б. Свиридкина
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
The Body ◽  
External Factors ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Main Condition ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Internal And External Factors ◽  
The Brain

Пластичность мозга - способность изменяться под действием внутренних и внешних факторов и, в качестве следствия, изменять тело. Мозг - посредник, между организмом (телом) и средой. Среда и условия жизни постоянно изменяются. Через мозг осуществляются приспособления к этим изменениям организма, направленные на сохранение жизни в изменившихся условиях. Диапазон пластических возможностей мозга иллюстрируется способностью осязания заменить зрение, или способностью когнитивных и физических нагрузок, диеты, сна существенно замедлить возрастную деградацию физического и умственного здоровья. Пластичность мозга - главное условие здоровья и долголетия. Другого «эликсира молодости» сегодня нет и, по-видимому, никогда не будет. Способ поддержания пластичности мозга - его занятость. Путь к деградации мозга - интеллектуальный и физический покой. Plasticity of the brain is an ability to change under the influence of internal and external factors and, as a consequence, to change the body. The brain is a mediator between the organism (body) and the environment. The environment, living conditions, is continuously changing. Adaptation to these changes in the body aimed at preserving life in the changed conditions occurs via the brain. The range of plastic capabilities of the brain is illustrated by the ability of touch to replace vision or the ability of cognitive and physical exercise, diet, and sleep to slow down significantly the age-related decline of physical and mental health. Plasticity of the brain is the main condition for health and longevity. There is no other “elixir of youth” today and, apparently, will never be. A way to maintain brain plasticity is to keep it busy. The path to brain degradation is mental and physical quiescence.

scholarly journals Models of vestibular semicircular canal afferent neuron firing activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 122 (6) ◽  
pp. 2548-2567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Paulin ◽  
Larry F. Hoffman
Keyword(s):  
Information Transmission ◽  
Sensory Neurons ◽  
Semicircular Canal ◽  
Generative Models ◽  
Afferent Neuron ◽  
Dimensional System ◽  
Afferent Neurons ◽  
Sense Data ◽  
The World ◽  
The Brain

Semicircular canal afferent neurons transmit information about head rotation to the brain. Mathematical models of how they do this have coevolved with concepts of how brains perceive the world. A 19th-century “camera” metaphor, in which sensory neurons project an image of the world captured by sense organs into the brain, gave way to a 20th-century view of sensory nerves as communication channels providing inputs to dynamical control systems. Now, in the 21st century, brains are being modeled as Bayesian observers who infer what is happening in the world given noisy, incomplete, and distorted sense data. The semicircular canals of the vestibular apparatus provide an experimentally accessible, low-dimensional system for developing and testing dynamical Bayesian generative models of sense data. In this review, we summarize advances in mathematical modeling of information transmission by semicircular canal afferent sensory neurons since the first such model was proposed nearly a century ago. Models of information transmission by vestibular afferent neurons may provide a foundation for developing realistic models of how brains perceive the world by inferring the causes of sense data.

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