Your Second Brain

Unbeknownst to most people, in addition to the brain in our skull, we also have a brain in our gut. This brain is responsible for emotional gut reactions (“butterflies” when we are nervous and “sinking” in the pits of our stomach when something doesn’t feel right.)

Here are some more interesting facts regarding our gut:

• It contains over half of the neurons in our body.  These nerve cells are responsible for relaying information from the outside world and creating appropriate responses.

• It contains the same types of hormones and neurotransmitters found in our brain.  Hormones allow the body to adjust to small changes in our environment (homeostasis), while neurotransmitters are chemicals that the nervous system uses to communicate with other systems of the body.  Neurotransmitters are responsible for the signaling that underlies thoughts, emotions, and planning.

• Our gut is able to learn, remember, and produce emotion-based feelings.

Developmentally, our brain and our gut originate from the same type of tissue.  This means that in adulthood they have similar anatomy (structure) and physiology (function.)  The brain and the gut are connected by the longest nerve in our body:  the vagus nerve.  This nerve allows the brain to influence the gut, and vice versa.  Therefore, this important brain-gut connection is responsible for the stomach symptoms we feel during times of high stress, such as indigestion, ulcers, and diarrhea.

So, the next time you say you have a “gut-feeling” about someone or your stomach is “in knots”, pay attention!  It is actually your body’s second brain giving you valuable information.