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Research at the University of Amsterdam into what is popularly called the “head-heart-gut” idea actually falls under several serious research fields: cognitive neuroscience, psychoneuroimmunology, and the so-called gut-brain axis. The UvA uses those terms, not the model of three separate brains.

Central to UvA research is the interaction between brain, body, and behavior. A significant part focuses on the gut-brain axis: the enteric nervous system in the intestines, the microbiome, and their influence on stress, mood, and cognitive functions. Researchers investigate how gut bacteria send signals to the brain via immune responses, hormones, and the vagus nerve. These processes prove relevant to depression, anxiety, and stress regulation. It is not a matter of a “gut brain” that thinks independently, but rather a complex feedback system between peripheral nervous systems and the central nervous system.

A second line of research investigates the role of body signals such as heart rate and breathing in emotion and decision-making. Within cognitive and affective neuroscience at the UvA, for example, researchers look at heart rate variability (HRV) and interoception: how well people perceive internal body signals and how this relates to stress, trauma, and emotional regulation. These studies show that heart and respiratory signals influence brain activity and vice versa. In this context, the heart functions as part of a regulatory system, not as a separate brain.

The UvA places these findings within an integrated model of body and brain. The nervous system, the immune system, and hormonal systems together form a network that influences behavior and mental health. The popular metaphor of three brains can sometimes be helpful in therapy or coaching, but is not used literally in academic research. Instead, one speaks of mutual regulation between brain, body, and environment.

In short: UvA research confirms strong bidirectional communication between the brain, heart, and gut. However, the idea of ​​multiple “brains” is primarily a simplified metaphor for a complex, integrated biological system.