How does the gut-brain connection work?

Science Friday | 54 min ago

Gut feelings, trusting your gut, butterflies: We have lots of expressions about how our brains and our bowels are intertwined. But how well do we understand the science of this on the biomolecular level? And which of those organs is actually in the driver's seat? 

Flora churned through the details with gastroneurologists Emeran Mayer and Trischa Pasricha on stage at the 2026 Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado. 

Guests:

Dr. Emeran Mayer is distinguished research professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and executive director of the G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience.

Dr. Trisha Pasricha is a neurogastroenterologist and physician-scientist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as well as an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Other episodes you may enjoy:

A transcript for this episode is available at sciencefriday.com.

Top Stories

Chemical fumes still detected at Gowanus school after installation of filter system

State officials have discovered additional contamination is seeping into the school, potentially from sources inside the building.
Gothamist |

Two Women Take On a Mob Boss in a New Historical Fiction Novel

All Of It with Alison Stewart |

A Newspaper Raid and a Small Town Whodunnit

A local paper gets searched by police. Tragedy ensues.
On the Media |

Trump's Crypto Windfall

David Uberti discusses Trump's 2025 financial disclosures, focusing on the more than $1 billion he made from crypto.
The Brian Lehrer Show |
YOU ARE ONLINE