Serotonin is one of the main messengers that helps your gut and brain talk to each other. Most of it is made in the gut, not the brain. When your gut cells release serotonin, it activates the vagus nerve—the main communication pathway between the body and the brain. This nerve carries signals upward, letting your brain know what’s happening inside your body and helping it adjust things like digestion, heart rate, and mood.

When serotonin activates the vagus nerve, it supports balance in the nervous system. It helps shift the body out of stress mode and into a more regulated, calm state. This connection is one of the key ways the gut can influence how we feel—not just emotionally, but also in terms of how grounded, safe, and connected we are.

If the vagus nerve or serotonin signaling is disrupted, the nervous system can become more reactive or less able to recover from stress. Practices that increase vagal tone—such as deep breathing, mindfulness, or Network Spinal care—can help restore this communication loop. As the vagus nerve becomes more responsive and serotonin signaling more balanced, the whole nervous system learns to regulate more easily, allowing greater ease, presence, and coherence throughout the body.