How different body areas affect the brain-gut connection in people with indigestion
Body Region Specificity for Neuromodulation of the Gut-Brain Axis in Functional Dyspepsia
This research explores how stimulating specific body points might improve digestion and brain-gut communication for people experiencing chronic indigestion.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlestown, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11128820 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research explores how stimulating specific points on the body, like those used in acupuncture, can influence the connection between your brain and your gut. We want to see if different body areas have unique effects on how your stomach moves and how your brain processes these signals. Using advanced MRI scans, we will look at changes in brain activity and stomach function in people with ongoing indigestion. The goal is to learn more about how these non-drug approaches might help manage digestive discomfort.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this type of research would be individuals experiencing functional dyspepsia, which is a type of chronic indigestion without a clear cause.
Not a fit: Patients whose indigestion is caused by a specific disease or structural problem, rather than functional dyspepsia, may not directly benefit from this particular approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, non-medication options for managing symptoms of chronic indigestion by understanding how to best use therapies like acupuncture.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown it's possible to use MRI to look at stomach function in people with functional dyspepsia, suggesting this approach builds on existing methods.
Where this research is happening
Charlestown, United States
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital — Charlestown, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sclocco, Roberta — Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sclocco, Roberta
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.