'Your 3 Brains: How Your Gut, Heart, and Head All Work Together', by 3 Brains
‘Balancing the heart, brain, and gut is fundamental for optimal health.’
We have three brains. You may be wondering how that’s possible. Cleary, with what we know about the human body, we only have one – our head-brain. Familiar to many, the head-brain is a remarkable organ that controls our movements, emotions, memory, and other key body functions. However, the head-brain does not work in isolation. In fact, a growing body of evidence suggests we have three brains: the head, the gut, and the heart. [1,2] Each brain has its own functions, but together they intricately communicate with one another to influence our mental, emotional, and physical health.
In her book Three Brains, author and naturopathic doctor Karen Jensen compares the head, gut, and heart brains to an orchestra “with billions of neurons cooperating to produce a harmonic symphony, harnessing together an ever-changing network of neurons that work in synchrony.” [2] If this synchronization of the three brains collapses, we may be at risk for various mental health and neurodegenerative conditions. [2]
‘...a growing body of evidence suggests we have three brains: the head, the gut, and the heart…together they intricately communicate with one another to influence our mental, emotional, and physical health.’
Use your head
The head-brain contains billions of neurons, the fundamental cells of the brain and nervous system that produce and transmit electrical impulses. The brain also produces various neurotransmitters or chemical messengers, such as dopamine and serotonin, which affect our mood, sleep, appetite, and concentration. This complex organ is protected by the blood-brain barrier and communicates with the other brains through the vagus nerve, spinal cord, and neurotransmitters. The head-brain analyzes information and applies logic. [2]
Listen to your gut
Have you ever experienced a “gut feeling”? The concept of the gut-brain has been examined more closely with the emergence of the field of neurogastroenterology in the 1990s. [3] Located in the wall of the digestive system, the gut-brain contains millions of neurons, and it works on its own or together with the head-brain through a bidirectional communication known as the gut-brain axis. [4] Not only does the gut-brain control digestion, but it also produces neurotransmitters. Interestingly, the gut is thought to generate as much dopamine as the brain and about 90–95% of the body’s serotonin. [5,6] Similar to the head-brain, the gut-brain has a protective barrier and communicates with the other brains by way of the vagus nerve and gut microbiota (the community of gut bacteria). Dysbiosis, an imbalance of the gut’s good and bad bacteria, has been associated with several brain conditions such as anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). [4,7] The gut-brain is used for understanding our identity and who we are in the world. [2]
‘The gut-brain is used for understanding our identity and who we are in the world.’
Trust your heart
Recent discoveries have revealed the importance of the heart-brain and its relationship to the head-brain and the gut-brain. The heart has its own nervous system and can communicate with the other brains via the vagus nerve and spinal cord, peptides, nerve impulses, hormones, neurotransmitters, and electromagnetic fields. [2,8] For example, the heart produces hormones similar to ones produced by the brain, such as oxytocin, a hormone that supports cardiovascular health but is also beneficial for many mental health conditions, including social anxieties, depression, and other mood disorders. [9,10] In addition, inflammation resulting from gut disturbances can lead to cardiovascular concerns and vice versa. [11] The heart-brain senses the world through emotions. [2]
‘Recent discoveries have revealed the importance of the heart-brain and its relationship to the head-brain and the gut-brain.’
Balancing the heart, brain, and gut is fundamental for optimal health. Nutrients from wholefoods, physical activity, quality sleep, stress management, and supplements are effective, non-invasive ways to support the critical relationship between the three brains and maintain overall health.
By Stephanie Rubino, ND
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References
- Soosalu G, Henwood S, Deo A. Head, heart, and gut in decision making: Development of a multiple brain preference questionnaire. SAGE Open. 2019; 1-17.
- Jensen, Karen. Three Brains. How the heart, brain, and gut influence mental health and identity. Mind Publishing; 2016.
- Johnson AC, Louwies T, Ligon CO, et al. Enlightening the frontiers of neurogastroenterology through optogenetics. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2020; 319(3):G391-9.
- Clapp M, Aurora N, Herrera L, et al. Gut microbiota’s effect on mental health: The gut-brain axis. Clin Pract. 2017; 7(4):987.
- Terry N, Margolis KG. Serotonergic mechanisms regulating the GI tract: Experimental evidence and therapeutic relevance. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2017; 239:319-42.
- Hamamah S, Aghazarian A, Nazaryan A, et al. Role of microbiota-gut-brain axis in regulating dopaminergic signaling. Biomedicines. 2022; 10(2):436.
- Bull-Larsen S, Mohajeri MH. The potential influence of the bacterial microbiome on the development and progression of ADHD. Nutrients. 2019; 11(11):2805.
- Alshami AM. Pain: Is it all in the brain or the heart?. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2019; 23(12):88.
- Jankowski M, Broderick TL, Gutkowska J. The role of oxytocin in cardiovascular protection. Front Psychol. 2020; 11:2139.
- Jones C, Barrera I, Brothers S, et al. Oxytocin and social functioning. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017; 19(2):193-201.
- Kamo T, Akazawa H, Suzuki JI, et al. Novel concept of a heart-gut axis in the pathophysiology of heart failure. Korean Circ J. 2017; 47(5):663-9.