The gut and brain communicate through a dedicated superhighway of nerves

The vagus nerve serves as the primary physical link between the brain and the gut, forming what scientists call the gut-brain axis. This massive nerve contains approximately 100,000 fibers that transmit signals regarding hunger, fullness, and immune responses. Interestingly, about 80 to 90 percent of these nerve fibers are sensory, meaning they carry information from the gut up to the brain rather than the other way around.