Astounding Feats of the Brain in Your Gut

Called the “second brain,” the enteric nervous system influences much of our overall health

There are 22 classes of unique enteric neurons, which are found in two layers of the gastrointestinal tract and form our "second brain." Shutterstock

The enteric nervous system is known as the body’s “second brain,” a vital communication center housed in spiderweb-like circuits within two layers of the gut lining. It helps to manage functions central to digestion, immunity, and mood.

It’s called the second brain because it’s made up of a collection of hundreds of millions of neurons and acts independently but in cooperation with the other branches of the autonomic nervous system. It coordinates several complex functions by using 30 different neurotransmitters. More than 90 percent of the body’s serotonin and about 50 percent of its dopamine are found in the gut.