Question

The stomach is wired to the brain via the parasympathetic nervous system. Why do you believe is it essential for the brain to communicate with the stomach even though digestion is mostly an involuntary process?

Answer 1

Mind-gut connection is not just metaphorical. Our brain and gut are connected by an extensive network of neurons and a highway of chemicals and hormones that constantly provide feedback about how hungry we are, whether or not we’re experiencing stress, or if we’ve ingested a disease-causing microbe. This information superhighway is called the brain-gut axis and it provides constant updates on the state of affairs at your two ends. That sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach after looking at your postholiday credit card bill is a vivid example of the brain-gut connection at work. You’re stressed and your gut knows it—immediately.
Eg:
Stress hormones present another kind of chemical that acts as the primary go-between for these two brains. When the brain detects any kind of threat -- whether an impending layoff or a dustup with your spouse -- it shoots stress hormones to your gut. Sensory nerves there respond by adjusting acid secretion and shutting down both appetite and digestion -- a throwback to more dangerous times in our past, when we needed to summon all our resources to stand and fight, or flee. The result may be a nagging stomachache or a full-blown bout of gastrointestinal (GI) distress