Human gut‐brain interactions

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In recent years, new neurophysiological techniques have been developed which allow access to the gut‐brain axis in humans. Among these tools, recording of cerebral evoked potentials following stimulation of a viscera (rectosigmoid, oesophagus) as well as the striated anal sphincter muscle have gained importance for evaluation of afferent pathways in functional bowel disorders. Oesophageal and anal motor evoked potentials after transcranial magnetoelectrical stimulation of the motor cortex and the spine have demonstrated the feasibility to access the efferent motor pathways to these muscles as well, but studies are still needed to demonstrate their clinical importance. Finally, recording of electromechanical coupling at the level of a single muscle (external anal sphincter) will give further insight into the continence mechanism in health and disease.