Talk about a “gut feeling.”
New research from Duke University highlights the role of neuropods, specialized sensory cells in the colon that act like taste buds for the gut.
Neuropods “sample” nutrients like sugars and bacterial byproducts and quickly send signals to the brain, guiding food choices and even influencing when it’s time to stop eating.
Researchers call the phenomenon “neurobiotic sense” — a “hidden sixth sense.” They hope it paves the way for new obesity treatments and provides insight into mental health disorders affected by diet.
“It’s similar to how we use our other senses — sight, sound, smell, taste and touch — to interpret our world,” the study authors said. “But this one operates from an unexpected place: The gut.”
The new Duke study — published Wednesday in the journal Nature — focuses on flagellin, a key structural protein that enables bacteria to move.
Bohórquez previously demonstrated that neuropod cells in the gut can distinguish between real sugar and artificial sweeteners.
The cells communicate this information to the brain, driving the preference for sugar.
“Looking ahead, I think this work will be especially helpful for the broader scientific community to explain how our behavior is influenced by microbes,” said Bohórquez, a professor of medicine and neurobiology and senior study author.
Read the full article on the New York Post
July 23, 2025