Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BRAINSTOM (Influence of Brain-Stomach Interactions on Hunger, Satiety and Brain Function)
Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2024-08-31
BRAINSTOM investigates the neural and physiological mechanisms linking hunger and satiety with brain-stomach interactions, addressing the critical issue of how stomach motor activity influences brain function beyond food intake to impact cognition and well-being. This research holds societal importance given the rising prevalence of obesity and the challenges of promoting healthy eating behaviors. By revealing the subconscious gut-brain signals that shape food-related decisions, BRAINSTOM could contribute to developing effective health strategies for dietary management. The project’s overarching objectives are threefold: first, to examine how sensory signals from the stomach contribute to hunger and craving, especially through brain-gastric connections during food cue exposure; second, to determine whether dopamine in the stomach modulates hunger; and third, to explore the continuous interactions between gastric signals and intrinsic brain activity, assessing it's influence on mental health
Since the project’s start, BRAINSTOM has made substantial progress in understanding brain-stomach interactions as they relate to hunger, satiety, and mental health. Results confirm the stomach’s role as a modulator of brain activity and mental health. Notably, brain-stomach interactions appears altered in individuals with poorer mental health. BRAINSTOM has implemented innovative methodologies such as the use of high-resolution electrophysiology with fMRI and EEG. Results have been disseminated at several international conferences, and extensive collaborations were established, expanding the project’s scientific impact.
BRAINSTOM has progressed beyond the current state of the art by elucidating the neural and physiological mechanisms through which stomach activity influences brain function, particularly regarding hunger, satiety, and mental health. This project provides pioneering evidence that the brain-stomach axis plays a modulatory role in mental health, with preliminary findings showing that individuals with poorer mental health exhibit altered brain-stomach coupling. Expected results by the project’s end include a comprehensive understanding of how dopamine release in the stomach modulates hunger, supported by high-resolution electrophysiological and neuroimaging data. These findings are anticipated to offer actionable insights into how the gut subconsciously shapes food-related decisions, with broader implications for dietary management and interventions.