The human gut contains roughly 500 million neurons wired directly to the brain via the vagus nerve — and it registers signals before conscious thought catches up

The human gut contains roughly 500 million neurons wired directly to the brain via the vagus nerve — and it registers signals before conscious thought catches up

The human gut houses an estimated 100 million to 600 million neurons — a nervous system so dense and self-directed that it has its own name: the enteric nervous system. It lines the intestinal wall from esophagus to rectum, communicates with the brain through the vagus nerve, and registers chemical and mechanical signals well before the conscious mind has a chance to catch up. When a scent turns your stomach before you know why, or a room feels …