Understanding the effects of serotonin in the brain through its role in the gastrointestinal tract.
Brain : a journal of neurology September 14, 2022 James M Shine, Claire O'Callaghan, Ishan C Walpola et al. 63 citations
Serotonin in the brain can be understood as an extension of the gut's serotonergic system, which controls digestion. Central serotonin activity mimics a digestion/satiety circuit, where low serotonergic tone facilitates cognitive automaticity and higher tone helps identify flexible solutions when initial responses fail. This perspective explains serotonin's roles in reward processing, exploration, and psychedelic experiences, and clarifies links between serotonergic dysfunction and psychiatric symptoms.