Understanding how the brain and gut communicate without invasive procedures
Official title: Non-invasive assessment and modulation of brain-gut interoception in humans
Funded at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital · NIH-10815773 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how your brain and gut communicate with each other and how that affects your digestion, using safe techniques like MRI scans while you eat, to help us learn more about gut health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlestown, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $210,914 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AT011918-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10815773 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who may experience gastrointestinal disorders or are interested in understanding their gut-brain interactions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with severe neurological conditions or those unable to undergo MRI procedures may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the brain and gut interact through a process called interoception, which involves sensing and interpreting internal bodily signals. Using non-invasive techniques, including MRI and a method called transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS), the study aims to explore how these interactions affect gastric function and brain responses. Participants will undergo MRI scans while ingesting calibrated meals to assess how their bodies respond to these signals. The goal is to enhance our understanding of the gut-brain axis and its implications for gastrointestinal health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new non-invasive treatments for gastrointestinal disorders by improving our understanding of brain-gut communication.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using taVNS and MRI to study the gut-brain axis is innovative, similar non-invasive techniques have shown promise in related fields, suggesting potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Charlestown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sclocco, Roberta — Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sclocco, Roberta
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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.