Book 2, Question 29

Why Do We Get Butterflies in the Stomach?

Have you ever felt fluttery in your tummy before a game or a big test? Gut and brain are talking! Nerves change how the stomach feels.

From the book

Page from A Million Whys Book 2

Your gut has more nerve cells than anywhere else in your body except your brain.
There are over 100 million nerve cells in your gut, about as many as in a cat's head.
That gut nerve network is sometimes called the little brain.
Butterflies in your stomach really are the brain in your gut talking with the brain in your head.
When you get nervous, blood is sent away from your gut to your muscles.
Stress hormones like adrenaline can make your stomach squeeze, and that feels like butterflies.
A long nerve called the vagus nerve is one of the main links between your gut and your brain.

Can excitement give me butterflies too?

Yes. Even thinking about an exciting event can make you feel butterflies in your stomach.