CANBERRA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Australian researchers have proposed that the nervous system in the gut may have evolved before the brain, challenging traditional theories about the evolution of the nervous system.
Researchers from Flinders University in South Australia argue that the gut's nervous system may have served as the body's original "brain," with the brain evolving later to support its functions, according to a university statement released on Wednesday.
The theory, published in The Journal of Physiology, draws on evidence from physiology and evolutionary biology to suggest that the nervous system may have originated in the gut to help early organisms obtain the energy needed for survival.
The enteric nervous system, often referred to as the body's "second brain," can sense its environment, process information and coordinate complex responses independently, according to the researchers.
The researchers said the theory could open up new avenues for studying conditions linked to the gut and nervous system, including obesity, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and digestive disorders. ■