E184: “How does your gut talk to your brain?” [SJK Audio Edition]

E184: “How does your gut talk to your brain?” [SJK Audio Edition]

From SJK Audio Edition by Science Journal for Kids

March 8, 2026 · 10 min

About this episode

Scientists discovered a new gut sense that communicates with the brain to regulate eating.

Read this article at: https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/how-does-your-gut-talk-to-your-brain/ or watch at: https://youtu.be/TyzqiA5L0o4 Summary : Scientists found a new gut “sixth sense” that detects bacterial flagellin and tells the brain to stop eating. Abstract : You have heard about the 5 senses, right? We use sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell to understand the world. But did you know your gut has its own sense? It doesn’t notice light or sound, but it can pick up signals from bacteria. We looked at one of these signals, a chemical called flagellin. Almost all bacteria make flagellin to build their tiny tails. Special cells in the gut can sense flagellin. When they do, they release a fast signal that uses the vagus nerve to tell the brain, “You’re full.” In our mouse studies, animals without this sensor ate bigger meals and gained more weight. This shows that the gut can directly sense bacteria to control eating. We call this new pathway the neurobiotic sense. You are one of half a million educators in the U.S. who use our articles and videos in class. All our content is FREE , no paywalls, no need to subscribe. But recent federal cuts have made it hard for…

Topics covered

  • gut health
  • brain communication
  • bacterial signals
  • eating behavior
  • neurobiology

Keywords

  • gut
  • brain
  • flagellin
  • bacteria
  • eating
  • neurobiotic sense
  • vagus nerve

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Science Journal for Kids, SJK Audio Edition

Products: flagellin

Places: U.S.

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