Mon cerveau et mon intestin communiquent, parfois mal !

Our brain and our gut communicate through the brain-gut axis. These brain-gut interactions enable a coordinated functioning of the gastro-intestinal tract adapted to its environment in physiological conditions. These brain-gut interactions occur via the autonomic nervous system (ANS) represented by the parasympathetic (e.g. the vagus nerve) and sympathetic nervous system which both contain a predominant afferent and efferent component. The sympatho-vagal balance is a marker of this communication. A disturbance of this brain-gut axis is observed in the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) comparable to bio-psycho-social models. Stress and emotions play a role in the initiation and the worsening of IBS and data also argue for their role in IBD. The exploration and characterization of the functional state of the ANS appear as an interesting marker of brain-gut interactions both in physiological and pathological conditions. Therapies targeting the ANS using a medicinal, nutritional, or complementary approach or through vagus nerve stimulation or combined interventions are likely to restore adapted and coordinated functioning of the ANS. They have a place in the treatment of IBS and IBD.