May 27, 2024 • 2hr 42min

Dr. Diego Bohórquez: The Science of Your Gut Sense & the Gut-Brain Axis

Huberman Lab

In this episode, Dr. Diego Bohórquez, a professor of medicine and neurobiology at Duke University, discusses his pioneering research into the "gut-brain axis" - how the gut senses and communicates information to the brain to shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

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Key Takeaways

The gut-brain axis involves direct neural connections and hormonal signaling between the gut and brain, allowing the gut to sense and communicate information about the external environment (food, chemicals, etc.) to influence thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Specialized "neuropod" cells in the gut lining can directly detect nutrients, temperature, pH, and other properties of the gut contents and rapidly transmit this information to the brain via the vagus nerve.
Gut sensing plays a critical role in food preferences, cravings, and aversions - the gut can detect the presence or absence of key nutrients like protein and signal this to the brain to drive feeding behaviors.
Gut-brain communication is a two-way street, with the brain also sending signals back to influence gut function, digestion, and even intuitive "gut feelings" about people and situations.
Dr. Bohórquez's unique background growing up in the Amazon and studying traditional agriculture has shaped his perspective on the "wisdom" and intelligence of plants in shaping human evolution and behavior.

Introduction

In this episode, Dr. Diego Bohórquez, a professor of medicine and neurobiology at Duke University, discusses his pioneering research into the "gut-brain axis" - how the gut senses and communicates information to the brain to shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Dr. Bohórquez explains that the gut is not just a passive digestive organ, but an active sensory system that can detect a wide range of chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the food we consume. This sensory information is then rapidly transmitted to the brain, often faster than conscious awareness, to influence our food preferences, cravings, and even our intuitive "gut feelings" about people and situations.

Through his unique background growing up in the Amazon and studying traditional agriculture, Dr. Bohórquez also shares insights into how plants may possess an innate "wisdom" that has shaped human evolution and behavior in profound ways.

Topics Discussed

The Gut-Brain Axis (6:49)

The gut is the only organ that is directly exposed to the external environment through the food we consume.
The gut contains specialized "enteroendocrine" cells that can detect nutrients, temperature, pH, and other properties and release hormones to signal this information to the brain.
This gut-brain communication was historically thought to only occur via hormones traveling in the bloodstream, but Dr. Bohórquez's research has revealed direct neural connections as well.

Neuropod Cells & Environmental Sensing (15:26)

Using new tools like green fluorescent protein, Dr. Bohórquez and his team discovered specialized "neuropod" cells in the gut lining that can directly sense the gut environment and transmit this information to the brain.
These neuropod cells have long, branching processes that can physically contact nerve fibers, allowing them to rapidly communicate sensory information.
Neuropod cells can detect a wide range of properties, from nutrients to temperature, and transmit this via the vagus nerve to influence the brain.

Gut Sensing & Food Preferences (43:55)

Dr. Bohórquez describes a case study of a woman who underwent gastric bypass surgery and experienced dramatic changes in her food preferences, including a newfound craving for egg yolks that she previously found aversive.
This suggests the gut is playing a key role in shaping our innate food preferences and cravings, likely through the neuropod cells sensing the nutrient content of foods.

Optogenetics & Sugar Preference (51:14)

Using optogenetic techniques to selectively activate or inactivate the neuropod cells in animal models, Dr. Bohórquez's team found they could eliminate the animals' natural preference for sugar over artificial sweeteners.
This demonstrates the neuropod cells are directly responsible for driving sugar cravings and preferences, rather than just taste receptors in the mouth.

Gut-Brain Disorders (1:00:29)

Disruptions in gut-brain communication, such as in irritable bowel syndrome, can lead to visceral hypersensitivity and chronic pain.
The gut-brain axis also appears to play a role in conditions like alcoholism, where gastric bypass surgery patients often develop new alcohol cravings.

Gut Sensing & Behavior (1:04:04)

Gut sensing can influence social bonding, as sharing food synchronizes the gut-brain experience between people.
The gut may also play a role in "intuitive" decision-making and "gut feelings" about people and situations through its direct communication with the brain.

Gut Sensing of Nutrients (1:11:46)

Animal studies suggest the gut can detect the presence or absence of protein in foods and drive feeding behaviors accordingly.
Traditional agricultural practices like the "three sisters" (corn, beans, squash) may have evolved to provide a balanced source of macronutrients.

Dr. Bohórquez's Background (1:25:16)

Growing up in the Amazon, Dr. Bohórquez was exposed to traditional plant knowledge and agriculture at a young age.
His unique perspective has shaped his view of plants as possessing an innate "wisdom" that has profoundly influenced human evolution and behavior.

Conclusion

Through his pioneering research, Dr. Diego Bohórquez has shed new light on the gut-brain axis - the direct and rapid communication between the gut and brain that allows the gut to sense and influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

By discovering specialized "neuropod" cells in the gut that can detect a wide range of environmental cues, Dr. Bohórquez has revealed how the gut plays a critical role in shaping our food preferences, cravings, and even our intuitive "gut feelings" about people and situations.

Dr. Bohórquez's unique background growing up in the Amazon has also given him a deep appreciation for the "wisdom" of plants and how they may have co-evolved with humans in profound ways. This perspective offers a fascinating counterpoint to the reductionist biomedical approach, highlighting the importance of holistic, systems-level thinking when it comes to understanding human health and behavior.

Overall, this episode provides a compelling scientific framework for understanding the gut-brain connection and its profound influence on our everyday lives. It serves as a powerful reminder to pay closer attention to the subtle signals from our gut, as they may hold the key to better decision-making, mental and physical wellbeing.