Scientists at Flinders University are challenging a cornerstone of biology, arguing that the gut's nervous system may be the body's original “brain,” with the brain evolving later to support its needs.
The opinion piece, published in The Journal of Physiology, offers a fresh perspective on one of evolution's fundamental questions: why did brains evolve in the first place?
Flinders researchers argue the answer may lie in a much older nervous system embedded in the gut, which helped early organisms secure the energy necessary to survive. Often referred to as the body's “second brain,” the enteric nervous system contains hundreds of millions of neurons and can operate independently to coordinate digestion and other essential functions.
Lead author Tim Hibberd argues it may be more accurate to think of this as the body's first brain.
While this theory will not change medical treatment overnight, the researchers say it could influence future studies into conditions linked to the gut and nervous system, including obesity, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and digestive disorders.
“The way we think about the body shapes the way we investigate disease,” said Hibberd.
“If we begin to view the gut as a central player in nervous system function, it may open up new avenues for research.”
Data from Flinders University