BrainBody
1-3 October 2025

Exploring bidirectional crosstalk between the central nervous system and the body

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Ensuring adequate body homeostasis is a fundamental requirement for survival. The vertebrate brain has evolved intricate neural circuits and regulatory systems to precisely and constantly communicate with the body. Interoception, the sensing of internal body signals, is guaranteed through mechanisms involving crosstalk between the brain and the periphery, including sensory organs, heart, lungs, adipose tissue, and gut.

The crosstalk between the body and the brain occurs through various means, encompassing neuronal communication via the autonomous and sensory systems, but also via the humoral pathway (e.g. hormones or metabolites), and components of the immune system. Disruptions in this bidirectional communication can impact neuronal mechanisms involved in fundamental physiological processes and contribute to a spectrum of disorders, spanning psychiatric, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, and immunological conditions. The interaction between the body and the brain has garnered significant general interest, as indicated by the abundance of recent articles and reviews on the topic.

The conference «Brain-body» aims to present the latest insights into these diverse mechanisms governing brain-body crosstalk, identifying commonalities and differences among the different systems. This not only advances our understanding of body-brain communication but also seeks to illuminate the concept of interoception, ultimately answering the question, "How do I feel?"