# Enteric Nervous System **Domain:** Neuroscience / Physiology / Embodied Cognition **Doc Type:** Canonical concept node **Maturity:** Developed ## Definition The enteric nervous system is the extensive neural network embedded in the gastrointestinal tract that regulates digestion and communicates bidirectionally with the central nervous system. ## Mechanism and Significance Neural, endocrine, immune, and metabolic pathways connect gastrointestinal state with stress, arousal, appetite, and other bodily processes, helping explain why emotion is often experienced viscerally. ## Evidence Boundary The phrase second brain is a metaphor for neural extent and partial autonomy. The enteric nervous system does not perform the full cognitive functions of the brain. ## Relationships [[wiki/Reverse-Engineered Nervous System|Reverse-Engineered Nervous System]] · [[wiki/Biological Cybernetics|Biological Cybernetics]] · [[wiki/Embodied Cognition|Embodied Cognition]] · [[wiki/Neuroscience|Neuroscience]] ## Related Articles and Collections - [[collections/Simple Reminders|Simple Reminders]] - [[articles/Analog Cognition and the Architecture of Continuity|Analog Cognition and the Architecture of Continuity]] - [[articles/Thank You for Your Attention to This Matter!|Thank You for Your Attention to This Matter!]] ## Simple Reminders, Quotations, and Thoughts > “The gut and brain are closely connected. Scientists sometimes call the extensive network of nerves in the digestive system a second brain, which helps explain why emotions such as nervousness and love are felt in the stomach.” > **— Bryant McGill**, *Intuition, Analysis, and Moving Forward Under Uncertainty - Livestream (Feb 2018)* [[reminders/Human Animality/The Gut and Brain Form a Connected Nervous System by Bryant McGill|The Gut and Brain Form a Connected Nervous System by Bryant McGill]]