ABSTRACT
The aims of this chapter are to review: (1) the importance of the brain-gut axis (BGA) in maintaining homeostatic balance in health; (2) the neurobioanatomy of the BGA, including the role of the neuroendocrine and neuroimmune interactions and the autonomic nervous system; and (3) the influence of stress on BGA function and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. The critical role of gut microbiota in regulating BGA function and the potential for therapeutic manipulation of the microbiome are also discussed.
