Brain motion is driven by mechanical coupling with the abdomen
A recent study has revealed that brain motion is influenced by mechanical coupling with the abdomen. This motion, primarily observed during locomotion, is driven by abdominal muscle contractions that create a hydraulic-like connection between the nervous system and the abdominal cavity. The findings suggest that brain movement may play a role in fluid circulation within the brain, contrasting with the fluid dynamics observed during sleep.
- ▪The study visualized brain motion in awake head-fixed mice using high-speed, multiplane two-photon microscopy.
- ▪Brain motion was primarily directed rostrally and laterally, correlating with locomotion but not with respiration or cardiac cycles.
- ▪Abdominal muscle contractions were found to drive brain motion, indicating a mechanical link between the brain and the abdominal compartment.
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Download PDF Article Open access Published: 27 April 2026 Brain motion is driven by mechanical coupling with the abdomen C. Spencer Garborg ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2623-40541,2,3, Beatrice Ghitti ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8769-24544,5, Qingguang Zhang ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-4500-813X1,4,6, Joseph M. Ricotta1,2,4, Noah Frank7, Sara J. Mueller8, Denver I. Greenawalt1,2,4, Kevin L. Turner ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3044-70791,2,3, Ravi T. Kedarasetti2,4, Marceline Mostafa9, Hyunseok Lee1,2, Francesco Costanzo ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-3169-96382,3,4,7,10 & …Patrick J.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Nature.
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