Influence of Brain-Stomach Interactions on Hunger, Satiety and Brain Function

Project Information

BRAINSTOM

Grant agreement ID: 101028203

DOI

10.3030/101028203

Project closed

EC signature date 30 April 2021

Start date 1 September 2022

End date 31 August 2024

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 162 806,40

EU contribution

€ 162 806,40

Coordinated by

DEUTSCHES INSTITUT FUER ERNAEHRUNGSFORSCHUNG POTSDAM REHBRUECKE
Germany

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

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

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

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

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.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

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.