# Butterflies in my stomach? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 6, 2000, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-my-stomach/21606 "2000-06-06T22:27:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Claw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@Dr\_Claw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Claw)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-my-stomach/21606/1 "2000-06-06T22:27:07Z")
What is the physiological cause of “butterflies” in the stomach? ---
**Author:** ![ATTGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@ATTGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ATTGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-my-stomach/21606/2 "2000-06-06T22:43:09Z")
Eating caterpillars. ---
**Author:** ![Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-my-stomach/21606/3 "2000-06-07T02:23:18Z")
There was a recent article in [U.S. News and World Report](http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/000403/gut.htm) about this. To summarize, there is a large network of nerves in the abdomen that acts as a secondary nervous system. To quote from the article: > [@](#): > > Why some people feel the burden of stress in their gut and not for instance, in their heart can also be explained by the close communication between the brain and the gut. When the big brain consciously perceives a stressful situation, it calls on its fraternal twin through specialized cells called mast cells embedded in the gut’s lining. These mast cells secrete a chemical called histamine, which activates the nerves controlling the gut, telling the muscles to contract. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-my-stomach/21606/4 "2000-06-07T04:20:09Z")
ATTGuy, I almost peed on myself when I read that! (I know, I don’t get out much…but I’m working on it!) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Claw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@Dr\_Claw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Claw)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-my-stomach/21606/5 "2000-06-07T15:51:54Z")
Great cite, Gilligan. Usually, I only used to get butterflies in my stomach when I was nervous about something, but lately I have been getting them when I think about a certain subject that stresses me out (a recent breakup). I was wondering why that is happening, and now I know. Thanks again.