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Gut-Brain Coupling and Multilevel Physiological Response to Biofeedback Relaxation After a Stressful Task Under
Rudy Jeanne1,2, Timothy Piton3,4, Séphora Minjoz5,6
1LIP/PC2S, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, Université Grenoble Alpes, 73000, Chambéry, France. rudy.jeanne@univ-smb.fr.
Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
|November 6, 2022
Summary
Biofeedback relaxation significantly reduces gut-brain coupling intensity. This study shows that relaxation decreases sympathetic activity and alters brain wave patterns, impacting the gut-brain axis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
- Psychology
Background:
- The gut-brain axis, involving interactions between the brain and gastrointestinal tract, is crucial for physiological homeostasis.
- Electrophysiological coupling between the gut and brain has been observed under resting conditions.
- Understanding the gut-brain axis is vital for stress regulation and managing related health conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the modulation of gut-brain coupling using virtual reality-induced stress and relaxation.
- To explore the underlying physiological mechanisms influencing the gut-brain axis during stress and relaxation.
Main Methods:
- 12 participants underwent a virtual reality stress task followed by a relaxation period.
- Multilevel electrophysiological recordings included electroencephalography (EEG) for brain activity, photoplethysmography for autonomic activity, and electrogastrography for gastric activity.
- Phase-amplitude coupling analysis was used to quantify gut-brain coupling intensity.
Main Results:
- Relaxation significantly decreased sympathetic nervous system activity compared to the stress condition.
- Brain activity showed increased alpha power and decreased delta power during relaxation.
- Gut-brain coupling, measured by phase-amplitude coupling between gastric slow waves and brain alpha waves, was reduced during relaxation.
Conclusions:
- Biofeedback-induced relaxation effectively modulates gut-brain coupling.
- Noninvasive multilevel electrophysiology offers a promising approach to study the gut-brain axis in health and disease.
- Findings suggest a link between autonomic and brain activity modulation and gut-brain interactions.
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