The gastrointestinal-brain axis in humans as an evolutionary advance of the root-leaf axis in plants: A hypothesis linking quantum effects of light on serotonin and auxin
Abstract
Living organisms tend to find viable strategies under ambient conditions that optimize their search for, and utilization of, life-sustaining resources. For plants, a leading role in this process is performed by auxin, a plant hormone that drives morphological development, dynamics, and movement to optimize the absorption of light (through branches and leaves) and chemical “food” (through roots). Similarly to auxin in plants, serotonin seems to play an important role in higher animals, especially humans. Here, it is proposed that morphological and functional similarities between (i) plant leaves and the animal/human brain and (ii) plant roots and the animal/human gastro-intestinal tract have general features in common. Plants interact with light and use it for biological energy, whereas, neurons in the central nervous system seem to interact with bio-photons and use them for proper brain function. Further, as auxin drives roots “arborescence” within the soil, similarly serotonin seems to facilitate enteric nervous system connectivity within the human gastro-intestinal tract. This auxin/serotonin parallel suggests the root-branches axis in plants may be an evolutionary precursor to the gastro-intestinal-brain axis in humans. Finally, we hypothesize that light might be an important factor, both in gastro-intestinal dynamics and brain function. Such a comparison may indicate a key role for the interaction of light and serotonin in neuronal physiology (possibly in both the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system), and according to recent work, mind and consciousness.
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There is some evidence that transcranial photobiomodulation is an effective treatment for various brain disorders.
“There is some evidence that transcranial photobiomodulation, the application of red or near-infrared laser light to the cranial area, is an effective treatment for various brain disorders 152,153 .”
From Quantum effects in the brain: A review (2020) · cites this paper as [153]
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Quantum effects in the brain: A review
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- Authors
- Tonello, L., Gashi, B., Scuotto, A., Cappello, G., Cocchi, M., Gabrielli, F., & Tuszynski, J. A.
- Affiliations
- LUDES Foundation, Smart City, Kalkara, 1001, Malta
- University of Prishtina (XK)
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2J1, Canada
- Corresponding author
- Tonello, Lucio
- Venue
- Journal of Integrative Neuroscience
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2018-03-06
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 227-237
- ISSN
- 0219-6352 (ISSN-L)
- 1757-448X
- OpenAlex
- W3130992941
- Cited by
- 3
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 0.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Integrative Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PORTO@Iris (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Biofield Effects and Biophysics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Keywords
- gut-brain axis, auxin, serotonin, light, enteric nervous system, plant evolution, plant hormones, consciousness, neuronal physiology
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