Key Rhythms in Our Brains and Guts Share Similar Physics, Scientists Discover

Our bodies are in a constant state of ebb and flow, from the breaths we’re taking to the fluids washing our brains clean each night. Scientists have now uncovered a fascinating connection between the key rhythms in our brains and our guts, revealing that they share some of the same underlying physics.

Research has shown that the oscillation patterns responsible for digesting food also play a role in the brain’s blood vessels, aiding in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients as needed. This discovery has the potential to significantly advance our understanding of these biological systems.

An international team of researchers embarked on this investigation to delve into how blood vessels in the brain regulate rhythmic changes in blood flow, known as cortical vasomotion.

The study began by examining gut peristalsis, which is responsible for propelling food through the digestive system. By developing a comprehensive mathematical model of the rhythms and waves involved, known as a Ginzburg-Landau (GL) model, the researchers aimed to better grasp these processes.

The team successfully validated their updated model by reproducing the observed oscillation patterns in experiments conducted on cat intestines.

The findings suggest that neighboring groups of oscillations can synchronize or ‘couple’ with each other, shedding light on flow patterns in the digestive system and drawing parallels to the physics governing the brain’s neurons.

Physicist Massimo Vergassola from UC San Diego explains, “Coupled oscillators talk to each other, and each section of the intestine acts as an oscillator that communicates with neighboring sections. The varied frequencies of the oscillators in the gut and brain present a unique challenge.”

While there are distinct differences between the gut and brain, such as the directional flow of food in the gut versus the multidirectional flow of blood in the brain’s network of vessels, these findings offer insights into pulsations that could signal changes in mental health or neurological conditions.

This interdisciplinary research, published in Physical Review Letters, exemplifies the complexity and interconnectedness of biological systems, paving the way for further exploration into the intricate mechanisms governing our bodies.