Research paper
Berthoud HR, Albaugh VL, Neuhuber WL. Gut-brain communication and obesity: understanding functions of the vagus nerve. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2021;131(10):e143770. doi:10.1172/JCI143770. PMID: 33998597.
Why we cite it
Updated review of vagal gut-brain communication incorporating modern genetics-based neuroscience tools (single-cell RNA sequencing, optogenetics, chemogenetics) that have refined understanding of function-specific vagal afferent populations since Berthoud’s 2008 review. It describes “neuropod cells” — specialized enteroendocrine cells that make direct synaptic contacts with vagal afferents and can distinguish real sugar from artificial sweeteners — and “appetition” (appetite that comes with eating): gut-brain communication serves not only to stop eating but also to learn which foods are nutritious.
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