Writer: Joannabelle Freya Widjaja
Editor: Isabella Io
At some point in our lives, we may experience a feeling called “butterflies in the stomach”. It feels like a strange and unpredictable jumping in our stomach whenever we encounter our crush or someone we like, to express how nervous and anxious we are around them. This phrase first showed up in Florence Converse's 1908 book The House of Prayer, which is a work of religious fiction about a young boy who embarks on a journey to understand his church and gains a deeper appreciation of his faith. The phrase has been around for over a hundred years since then. But scientifically, how does this happen? [3]
How Does This Happen?
First and foremost, dopamine, or the "feel-good" chemical, plays a huge role. This is released during activities such as flirting or having memorable occasions, helping our sense of happiness. Other than that, norepinephrine in the central nervous system enhances this, it acts as a hormone that speeds up communication between nerve cells. It is released during stress or fear and triggers the brain to release corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus in the brain. Afterwards increasing adrenaline levels, which is part of the "fight or flight" response. Norepinephrine is also involved in romantic interests. [2][3]
Gut microbes directly influence steroidogenesis, which can impact stress hormone levels. This interaction may be responsible for discomfort, such as the feeling of nervous excitement, often associated with stress. Research shows that gut microbiota are not just passive components during stress but also act as active modifiers of the nervous and endocrine systems. The brain's coping and adapting mechanisms, which adjust behavior and endocrine function, in turn, affect how our gut microbes interact with the host's internal functions. That means, under stress, gut microbes can help adapt to changes in the host's physical and behavioral responses. [3][4]
Moreover, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a key path for managing stress, links gut microbes, the gastrointestinal tract, the brain, and behavior. This connection helps explain the tingling feeling in your gut. And then, stress signals are directed to the brain along the vagus nerve and related neural pathways. Despite their differences, both nervousness and excitement uplift the body to an enthusiastic state. [3][4]
In addition, the gut-brain axis plays an important role in the butterfly feeling in the stomach. The brain and gut are constantly linked through a web of nerve fibers called the vagus nerve, which links the brain to the abdomen. This connection explains why our mental states can instantly affect our digestive system. The digestive system, referred to as the "second brain" contains more than 100 million nerve cells that send and receive messages to and from the brain. Due to its enteric nervous system (ENS), which interacts with the brain, is why we feel stomach issues during moments of stress or excitement. Coincidentally, the same substances that prepare you for danger can also trigger the feeling in your stomach during a romantic encounter.
Furthermore, norepinephrine levels increase throughout the central nervous system during your special moments, explaining the ‘butterflies flying around. This is partly caused by reduced blood flow to the stomach, as adrenaline and norepinephrine averts blood to the muscles, increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. [3][4]
Is it Normal to Experience This?
While occasional butterflies in the stomach are usually harmless, chronic nervousness or anxiety disorders can make these sensations unsettling. Moreover, this can be a symptom of social anxiety disorder. In the end, whether triggered by attraction, excitement, nervousness, or stress, the sensation of butterflies in the stomach points out the complex communication within our body's nervous system. So next time you feel stomach jitters whenever he or she is around, know it’s not too serious unless you experience this often. Chances are you are way more likely to be lovesick. [3][4]
Sources & Works Cited
[1] John Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-brain-gut-connection
[2] The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/14/well/live/butterflies-stomach-love.html
[3] National Institutes of Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10683179/
[4] Journal of Biomedical Science. https://jbiomedsci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12929-023-00984-6#Sec14
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