Why We Get Butterflies in Our Stomach

Ever get butterflies before a big moment? Your stomach isn't being dramatic—your nervous

system is basically texting your gut: Brace yourself. Your gut is packed with nerves—so

it reacts fast when your brain thinks something important is happening. When you're excited

or nervous, your body can shift into fight-or-flight. That response changes digestion:

blood flow and muscle rhythm in the gut can shift for a moment.

And your gut muscles can squeeze differently—creating that fluttery, hollow, or flip-flop feeling.

The vagus nerve is one major communication line between gut and brain—like a two-way hotline.

The wow part: a lot of what you call a gut feeling is your brain