How the gut sends signals to the brain: Scientists define five types of colon neurons

The gut-brain connection is a complicated two-way signaling cascade that is responsible for keeping the digestive system working properly and can cause problems when it breaks down. A key part of that axis is the colon, which extracts water and nutrients from food and transports waste out of the body. This crucial organ is implicated in a range of gastrointestinal conditions, including constipation, diarrhea, pain, and inflammation.