What is it about the prefix 'neuro' that makes us so susceptible to suspending our disbelief? And why, as therapists, we should steer clear of neurobollocks. Oldie (but goldie).
Must admit, I had an affect-positive amygdaloid reaction to this semantic-network-stimulating input, and the dopamine hit threw my lizard brain off kilter while I experienced actualisation of neural circuits well beyond the 10% most people use, leading my Broca's area to reach for metabollocking superlatives that could do justice to the neurocogno-judgment that you might be right.
Hi Dr. Anna, the point that serotonin doesn’t cross the blood–brain barrier is an important and clarifying one. But I do think it’s easy to go from that to concluding that brain serotonin levels aren’t affected by the rest of the body, including the gut.
A 2025 review by Hwang and Oh discusses how serotonin produced in the gut can still influence brain serotonin activity, just not directly. Gut serotonin activates the vagus nerve, which sends signals to the nucleus tractus solitarius and then on to the dorsal raphe nucleus, a major site of serotonin production in the brain. The paper also explores how gut microbes can increase serotonin synthesis and vagal signalling, indirectly influencing central serotonergic systems.
So while peripheral serotonin doesn’t enter the brain, it can still modulate brain serotonin levels, through signalling pathways rather than chemical transfer.
I’m a follower and regular reader of yours. Thanks for the great post, as always.
Reference:
Hwang, Y. K., & Oh, J. S. (2025). Interaction of the Vagus Nerve and Serotonin in the Gut–Brain Axis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(3), 1160.
Hey, thank you for reading! In fact, you are absolutely right. I do need to be more nuanced here - and will go back to the article to account for more nuance. I guess I was targeting the most simplified narrative that goes from "we have serotonin in the gut" therefore "gut health = mental health" plus also the narratives around the 'gut brain' is somehow as responsible for our mood as the 'head brain'. Getting more curious, and learning about the knowledge available about the systems we are interested in from primary resources (like you did) rather than from the latest instagram post or people who push their own narratives using loosely some science language, is exactly I think we should do. I haven't read that particular paper you send - but I will - but I have seen some convincing accounts around about how the two might be related. Back to the point, thank you for pointing this out. By the way, all I say is not carved in stone and I really welcome the constructive challenge, exactly like you did, and learn from it enormously. So thank you again and looking forward to more interaction🙏
Not as far as I can see. Good post and one that should be taken to heart in a world filled with bollocks of all kinds. Several years ago, I wrote a post about our fascination, if not obsession, with all manner of "FBS" — what you might term "fantasy bollocks". Modern culture has increasingly lost touch with physical reality (and education in critical thought).
And as a result, look at the fine mess the USA is in. 😯
This was such a refreshing read. As a therapist, I often feel overwhelmed by the constant pressure to absorb new techniques and theories—like it’s a race to stay relevant. Your honesty and clarity cut through all that noise. It felt like a much-needed deep breath. Thank you for writing this.
Hey Julia. Thank you for reading and your kind words. Yeah, the field is riddled with neurobollocks and you must have had that sense and intuition yourself, I am guessing. Not being a neuroscientist myself but enthusiastic about the potential contribution of neuroscience to our field, as I started peeling off the layers, so to speak, I was stunned by the level of neurobollocks present as well as how elaborate some of them are yet completely divorced from any neuroscience reality! All this to say that I am glad that there are other practitioners out, like yourself, there who are sussing it out. 😊
Hey Federica. Thank you for reading 🙏. Indeed, 'quantum' is another one with a seductive allure and even more irresistible mystique than 'neuro'. Or maybe we are just too cynical!?😂
I don't think we are. Not after seeing people with tattoos of Dirac's equation explaining to me how quantum entanglement has to do with love... :) you're doing a good job. It's not about being snob or cynical but about debunking myths that can lead people to waste money or take less than informed decisions, which is relevant especially in your field because they night impact their health and habits!
Hey Sarah. Thank you for reading! The neurobollocks scale is brilliant isn't it? As I say in the post, I can't take the credit for it - Joseph Devlin came up with that scale and I just borrowed it 😊
I have to admit, I have been very attracted to a lot of neurobollocks . 'It's not woo woo, it's neuroscience' I've sometimes thought .....or perhaps woo woo neuroscience 🤣
Hi! This is the territory I know very little about. Here is a relevant post from a neuroscientist but then again there is some differences between when it comes to mental health men vs. women so on some level there will be some differences. To me this question is not black and white but in it's simplest form the answer is here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/joseph-t-devlin_brain-neurobollocks-activity-7292104593344245760--K8f
Thanks for your prompt reply. Whilst I agree that many (usually uninformed) people either over claim or make short shrift of any attempt to link differences in cognition and/or emotion to physical brain differences between distinct groups, such differences do exist. There is rarely marked difference of structure without difference of function.
Must admit, I had an affect-positive amygdaloid reaction to this semantic-network-stimulating input, and the dopamine hit threw my lizard brain off kilter while I experienced actualisation of neural circuits well beyond the 10% most people use, leading my Broca's area to reach for metabollocking superlatives that could do justice to the neurocogno-judgment that you might be right.
LOL so funny 😹
Hi Dr. Anna, the point that serotonin doesn’t cross the blood–brain barrier is an important and clarifying one. But I do think it’s easy to go from that to concluding that brain serotonin levels aren’t affected by the rest of the body, including the gut.
A 2025 review by Hwang and Oh discusses how serotonin produced in the gut can still influence brain serotonin activity, just not directly. Gut serotonin activates the vagus nerve, which sends signals to the nucleus tractus solitarius and then on to the dorsal raphe nucleus, a major site of serotonin production in the brain. The paper also explores how gut microbes can increase serotonin synthesis and vagal signalling, indirectly influencing central serotonergic systems.
So while peripheral serotonin doesn’t enter the brain, it can still modulate brain serotonin levels, through signalling pathways rather than chemical transfer.
I’m a follower and regular reader of yours. Thanks for the great post, as always.
Reference:
Hwang, Y. K., & Oh, J. S. (2025). Interaction of the Vagus Nerve and Serotonin in the Gut–Brain Axis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(3), 1160.
Hey, thank you for reading! In fact, you are absolutely right. I do need to be more nuanced here - and will go back to the article to account for more nuance. I guess I was targeting the most simplified narrative that goes from "we have serotonin in the gut" therefore "gut health = mental health" plus also the narratives around the 'gut brain' is somehow as responsible for our mood as the 'head brain'. Getting more curious, and learning about the knowledge available about the systems we are interested in from primary resources (like you did) rather than from the latest instagram post or people who push their own narratives using loosely some science language, is exactly I think we should do. I haven't read that particular paper you send - but I will - but I have seen some convincing accounts around about how the two might be related. Back to the point, thank you for pointing this out. By the way, all I say is not carved in stone and I really welcome the constructive challenge, exactly like you did, and learn from it enormously. So thank you again and looking forward to more interaction🙏
Thank you, Dr. Ana. I appreciate & respect your openness here.
Wishing you all the good things in life.
You know what is the simplest narrative You shoud targed? Lets spell that together because i know its a hard Word for You:
K.
I.
T.
C.
H.
E.
N.
GO!!!
> "Am I being too cynical and too critical here?"
Not as far as I can see. Good post and one that should be taken to heart in a world filled with bollocks of all kinds. Several years ago, I wrote a post about our fascination, if not obsession, with all manner of "FBS" — what you might term "fantasy bollocks". Modern culture has increasingly lost touch with physical reality (and education in critical thought).
And as a result, look at the fine mess the USA is in. 😯
Hi Ana,
This was such a refreshing read. As a therapist, I often feel overwhelmed by the constant pressure to absorb new techniques and theories—like it’s a race to stay relevant. Your honesty and clarity cut through all that noise. It felt like a much-needed deep breath. Thank you for writing this.
Hey Julia. Thank you for reading and your kind words. Yeah, the field is riddled with neurobollocks and you must have had that sense and intuition yourself, I am guessing. Not being a neuroscientist myself but enthusiastic about the potential contribution of neuroscience to our field, as I started peeling off the layers, so to speak, I was stunned by the level of neurobollocks present as well as how elaborate some of them are yet completely divorced from any neuroscience reality! All this to say that I am glad that there are other practitioners out, like yourself, there who are sussing it out. 😊
Very interesting and clearly explained. I have the same problem with "quantum" in physics!
Hey Federica. Thank you for reading 🙏. Indeed, 'quantum' is another one with a seductive allure and even more irresistible mystique than 'neuro'. Or maybe we are just too cynical!?😂
I don't think we are. Not after seeing people with tattoos of Dirac's equation explaining to me how quantum entanglement has to do with love... :) you're doing a good job. It's not about being snob or cynical but about debunking myths that can lead people to waste money or take less than informed decisions, which is relevant especially in your field because they night impact their health and habits!
Love this post 👍and love the graphic of the levels of Neurobollocks 👍🧐🧠😶🌫️
Hey Sarah. Thank you for reading! The neurobollocks scale is brilliant isn't it? As I say in the post, I can't take the credit for it - Joseph Devlin came up with that scale and I just borrowed it 😊
Enjoyed reading this ... awesome !
I have to admit, I have been very attracted to a lot of neurobollocks . 'It's not woo woo, it's neuroscience' I've sometimes thought .....or perhaps woo woo neuroscience 🤣
As long as you admit Rich 😂. Thank you for reading 🙏
🤣
Do You admit that You are actually very talented Cook? Dr. Ana?
Great post. I appreciated the breakdown of problem areas and the tips for evaluating information rationally and cognitively. Thank you!
Do you consider the differences between male and female brains to be “Neurobollox”?
Hi! This is the territory I know very little about. Here is a relevant post from a neuroscientist but then again there is some differences between when it comes to mental health men vs. women so on some level there will be some differences. To me this question is not black and white but in it's simplest form the answer is here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/joseph-t-devlin_brain-neurobollocks-activity-7292104593344245760--K8f
Thanks for your prompt reply. Whilst I agree that many (usually uninformed) people either over claim or make short shrift of any attempt to link differences in cognition and/or emotion to physical brain differences between distinct groups, such differences do exist. There is rarely marked difference of structure without difference of function.
Why wouldn't You start to share some Nice cooking recepies? Dr. Ana?
So far You offered nothing but criticism. You must be a feminist?
?
Wasn't talking to You. But You can TEACH This Ana how to Cook so she can make some contribution to mankind.
How do you know she’s not a great cook already?
How are you contributing?