RE: Book: The Enteric Nervous System... (WAS: The Second Brain) [s]

[Guest guest]

tev treowlufu Saturday, May 07, 2005 5:24 PM [Raw Food]

The Second Brain

The Enteric Nervous System: A Second Brain

 

MICHAEL D. GERSHON

Columbia University

Once dismissed as a simple collection of relay ganglia, the enteric nervous

system is now recognized as a complex, integrative brain in its own right.

Although we still are unable to relate complex behaviors such as gut

motility and secretion to the activity of individual neurons, work in that

area is proceeding briskly--and will lead to rapid advances in the

management of functional bowel disease.

 

http://www.hosppract.com/issues/1999/07/gershon.htm

_____

Hi Tev,

Thanks for bring this work to everyone's attention. Gershon's work is rooted

in research and writings dating back well into the 1800s. Modern " medical

science " had dismissed the notion of an " abdominal brain " , but a few

researchers began taking an interest awhile back, and now there is more

focus.

 

But beware: the notion of an " abdominal brain " will challenge one of the

fundamental religious beliefs of modern " medical science, " namely, that the

brain runs the show. In fact, given the number of nerves traveling from the

brain into the gut, and given the great distance in comparison with the

locations of the local ganglia, it is actually quite impossible for the

brain to be running the show down there. Rather, the ganglia in the gut are

signaling feedback to the brain, telling IT what to do, or at least what is

needed. Then the brain signals the body, largely through the endocrine

system (hormones) (i.e., not primarily through the CNS, central nervous

system).

 

So this work will likely challenge some " established " thinking in the

mainstream medical community, it may be called " controversial, " then perhaps

" revolutionary " or " groundbreaking " or a " breakthrough, " etc. But keep in

mind, it's all been known for nearly two centuries!!!

 

Oh, one more thing for all those among us who believe that we all somehow

digest differently and therefore need a " unique diet " : the existence of the

abdominal brain, an entire nervous system local to the gut, self-monitoring

and self-sustaining, running substantially outside the framework of the more

" advanced " brain/CNS, challenges your belief. For the nature and

construction of this abdominal brain reaches deep, deep into our biological

roots. The reliance on an elaborate network of ganglia connects us directly,

by design, with many " lower species, " and it affirms that our species'

digestive design remains substantially intact over eons of time.

 

Best to all,

Elchanan

 

 

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[Guest guest]

You are most welcome Elchanan.

 

I should point out that Dr. Gershon was featured

recently on NPR (All Things Considered or, perhaps,

Morning Edition).

 

Dr. Gershon stated that he has been researching the

Enteric System for the last 30 years. His research

found that the " gut " ganglia communicate to the brain

via the vagus nerve; and that 95% of the information

being communicated through the vagus nerve traveled

" from " the gut " to " the brain (as you mentioned).

Also, he found that the Enteric System (which he

described as a " brain " or an organ like a " brain " )

functioned independently of the brain and spinal cord

(as you have pointed out).

 

The vagus nerve connects to the brain via the region

near the medulla oblongata, suggesting that the

" information " being tranmitted to the brain isn't

directly communicated as higher integrative thought;

but rather, is communicated " subconsciously " (perhaps

as a lower brain " appetite " , etc.).

 

I find this stuff fascinating. The implication of such

findings do suggest an " intelligent " body paradigm.

While the Enteric System may not be capable of higher

integrative thought, it does coordinate and control

the body systems. And though we may have known about

the Enteric System, I think Dr. Gershon does a good

job of applying previous research, and the present

research, into a broader perspective.

 

regards,

 

tev

 

 

--- " INFO @ Vibrant Life " <VLinfo

wrote:

> Hi Tev,

> Thanks for bring this work to everyone's attention.

> Gershon's work is rooted

 

> But beware: the notion of an " abdominal brain " will

> challenge one of the

> fundamental religious beliefs of modern " medical

> science, " namely, that the

> brain runs the show. In fact, given the number of

> nerves traveling from the

> brain into the gut, and given the great distance in

> comparison with the

> locations of the local ganglia, it is actually quite

> impossible for the

> brain to be running the show down there. Rather, the

> ganglia in the gut are

> signaling feedback to the brain, telling IT what to

> do, or at least what is

> needed. Then the brain signals the body, largely

> through the endocrine

> system (hormones) (i.e., not primarily through the

> CNS, central nervous

> system).

>

> So this work will likely challenge some

> " established " thinking in the

> mainstream medical community, it may be called

> " controversial, " then perhaps

> " revolutionary " or " groundbreaking " or a

> " breakthrough, " etc. But keep in

> mind, it's all been known for nearly two

> centuries!!!

 

> Best to all,

> Elchanan

 

 

[...there'll be love and laughter,

and peace ever after,

just you wait and see...

---Vera Lynn]

 

 

 

 

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