The study was conducted by a team from Aarhus University in Denmark and the German Institute of Human Nutrition. The researchers hope that we might eventually be able to diagnose certain mental health issues<\/a> more precisely, or earlier, via stomach signals.<\/p>\n Related: An Extra Sense May Connect Gut Bacteria With Our Brain<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n “Intuitively, we assume stronger body-brain communication is a sign of health,” says<\/a> neuroscientist Micah Allen from Aarhus University.<\/p>\n “But here, unusually strong stomach-brain coupling seems linked to greater psychological burden \u2013 perhaps a system under strain.”<\/p>\n The researchers were able to obtain full brain scan data<\/a> (across 209 brain regions), full stomach scan data, and mental health questionnaires for 199 participants, and this information was then statistically analyzed to look for links.<\/p>\n Stronger syncing or coupling between brain waves<\/a> and stomach waves was associated with a higher chance of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression<\/a>, and stress. Weaker coupling meant a higher chance of better mental health and well-being.<\/p>\n The data isn’t enough to show that stomach activity is directly triggering mental illness<\/a> or vice versa, and we don’t know yet why these connections exist. However, it’s a relationship that we may be able to make use of, with further research.<\/p>\n It builds on what we already know about the enteric nervous system<\/a> in the gut, connected to the brain via the vagus nerve. Past research has linked this ‘second brain’ to conditions such as autism<\/a> and neurodegenerative diseases<\/a>.<\/p>\n “This part of the gut has been largely ignored,” says<\/a> neuroscientist Leah Banellis from Aarhus University. “Most research focuses on the microbiome and lower digestive system. Our results suggest stomach rhythms are also deeply tied to emotional well-being.”<\/p>\n It can be tricky to accurately diagnose mental health problems, with different conditions often overlapping, problems being overlooked or misdiagnosed<\/a>, and people being reluctant or unable to identify what the issues are. Having other markers<\/a> for a more precise diagnosis would be very useful.<\/p>\n Further down the line it might even be possible to adjust feedback from the stomach \u2013 the gastric rhythm \u2013 to alleviate the symptoms of mental health issues, but that’s a long way off. For now, the researchers want to gather more data on bigger and more diverse groups to see if these patterns can be replicated.<\/p>\n “We know certain medications and even the foods we eat can influence gastric rhythms,” says<\/a> Allen. “One day, this research might help us tailor treatments based on how a patient’s body and brain interact \u2013 not just what they report feeling.”<\/p>\n![\"Mental](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/MentalHealth.jpg\")
Mental health was assessed through questionnaires. (Banellis et al., Nat. Mental Health, 2025)<\/p>\n