Examples of How the Brain Impacts Body Function
In the first two lessons, I discussed how the brain can recreate physical changes based on conditioned food-symptom associations. Here are some examples and supporting evidence.
This process may sound like symptoms are “your fault.” However, it happens subconsciously.
Lemon Visualization
Experiences are stored in certain parts of our brain. When that memory is reactivated – which can be done by thinking about it, the brain can reproduce the physiological response connected with that memory.
This short visualization demonstrates how we typically salivate when thinking about tasting a lemon.
Gluten Expectation
The impact of anticipated gluten intake compared to actual consumption among individuals with non-coeliac gluten sensitivity was examined. Participants were divided into four groups based on the expectation of gluten (i.e. being told it was gluten) and actual gluten consumption. Gluten expectation was a stronger predictor of symptoms than actual intake. Digestive symptoms were highest in those who both expected and consumed gluten. These findings underscore the importance of both psychological and physiological factors in non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.
Brain Recreating Inflammation
I wanted to share a fascinating study about the brain recreating inflammation. Intestinal inflammation was chemically induced in mice (mimicking inflammatory bowel disease). The memory of this event was stored in specific brain regions (insular cortex). After the intestinal inflammation subsided, the researchers reactivated the specific brain region, and the intestinal inflammation returned. Many clients have described their food reactions as “reliving a bad food experience.” This study provides evidence of how this might happen.
Nocebo Response
You have probably heard of the placebo effect – something is more likely to make you feel better if you believe it will. The nocebo effect is the opposite. For many years, scientists thought the placebo/nocebo effect was subjective. In other words, the body did not change; the patient interpreted their symptoms differently. That may be part of it, but recent research has shown that the placebo/nocebo effect creates dramatic physical changes.