The gut-brain vagal axis governs mesolimbic dopamine dynamics and reward events
Abstract
Reward processes have traditionally been ascribed to dopamine (DA)–associated circuits. While external stimuli, such as food and drugs of abuse, are activators of DA-neuron activity, growing evidence indicates that interoceptive signals also play a critical role. Among these, the gut-brain vagal axis has emerged as a key regulator, although its precise contribution to mesolimbic DA signaling and behavior remains unclear. Here, we combine complementary ex vivo and in vivo approaches across multiple scales to show that gut-brain vagal tone is essential for gating mesolimbic DA system activity and functions, modulating DA-dependent molecular and cellular processes, and scaling both food- and drug-induced reinforcement. These findings challenge the traditional brain-centric view of reward processing, supporting a more integrated model in which vagus-mediated interoceptive signals intrinsically shape motivation and reinforcement. By uncovering the influence of gut-brain vagal communication on DA functions, this work provides insights into the neurobiology of adaptive and maladaptive reward, with broad relevance for eating disorders and addiction.
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BibTeX
@article{onimus2026gutbrain,
title = {{The gut-brain vagal axis governs mesolimbic dopamine dynamics and reward events}},
author = {Oriane Onimus and Faustine Arrivet and Tinaïg Le Borgne and Sylvie Perez and Julien Castel and Anthony Ansoult and Benoit Bertrand and Nejmeh Mashhour and Camille de Almeida and Linh-Chi Bui and Marie Vandecasteele and Serge Luquet and Laurent Venance and Nicolas Heck and Fabio Marti and Giuseppe Gangarossa},
journal = {Science Advances},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adz0828},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05780240v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The gut-brain vagal axis governs mesolimbic dopamine dynamics and reward events
AU - Oriane Onimus
AU - Faustine Arrivet
AU - Tinaïg Le Borgne
AU - Sylvie Perez
AU - Julien Castel
AU - Anthony Ansoult
AU - Benoit Bertrand
AU - Nejmeh Mashhour
AU - Camille de Almeida
AU - Linh-Chi Bui
AU - Marie Vandecasteele
AU - Serge Luquet
AU - Laurent Venance
AU - Nicolas Heck
AU - Fabio Marti
AU - Giuseppe Gangarossa
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Science Advances
DO - 10.1126/sciadv.adz0828
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05780240v1
AB - Reward processes have traditionally been ascribed to dopamine (DA)–associated circuits. While external stimuli, such as food and drugs of abuse, are activators of DA-neuron activity, growing evidence indicates that interoceptive signals also play a critical role. Among these, the gut-brain vagal axis has emerged as a key regulator, although its precise contribution to mesolimbic DA signaling and behavior remains unclear. Here, we combine complementary ex vivo and in vivo approaches across multiple scales to show that gut-brain vagal tone is essential for gating mesolimbic DA system activity and functions, modulating DA-dependent molecular and cellular processes, and scaling both food- and drug-induced reinforcement. These findings challenge the traditional brain-centric view of reward processing, supporting a more integrated model in which vagus-mediated interoceptive signals intrinsically shape motivation and reinforcement. By uncovering the influence of gut-brain vagal communication on DA functions, this work provides insights into the neurobiology of adaptive and maladaptive reward, with broad relevance for eating disorders and addiction.
SN - 2375-2548
ER -