Gut: The gate and key to brain

Brain science is the frontier of modern science, and new advances have been made in brain-like designs and brain-computer interfaces to simulate or develop brain functions. However, given that the brain is hermetically sealed within the skull, exploration and deciphering of the brain structure and functions are limited. Growing evidence suggests that the gut is not just a digestive organ. It not only provides essential nutrients and electrolytes for brain neurodevelopment and the maintenance of brain function, but it also transmits external environmental and intestinal wall signals from the intestinal lumen to the central nervous system through multiple pathways to regulate brain activity, function, and structure. A variety of gut-brain interaction pathways have been identified, including neural pathways, neuroimmune signaling, endocrine pathways, and biochemical messengers produced by gut microbes. Gut microbes interact with food and the gut to modulate gut-brain communication. The gut's important role and potential in neurodevelopment, maintenance of normal function, and disease development make it an increasingly important area of research in brain science and neuropsychiatric disorders. The gut's unique role in brain functions and its accessibility for research (compared to direct brain studies) establish it as a critical gate to understanding the mysteries of brain science. Crucially, intestinal nutrients and microbes provide two unique keys to unlock this gate-enabling neural regulation and novel treatments for neuropsychiatric diseases.