The article reviews the bidirectional interactions between the brain, gut, and enteric microbiota, highlighting their roles in health and disease. The brain can influence the gut through changes in gastrointestinal motility, secretion, and permeability, as well as via signaling molecules released by enterochromaffin cells, neurons, and immune cells. The gut can communicate with the host through multiple mechanisms, including epithelial-cell signaling and direct stimulation of host cells in the lamina propria. Enterochromaffin cells, which are key transducers, play a crucial role in regulating communication between the gut lumen and the nervous system. Stress can modulate the composition and biomass of the enteric microbiota, affecting gut functions such as motility and immune response. The article also discusses the potential therapeutic implications of these interactions, particularly in conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Probiotics and prebiotics have shown promise in treating IBS symptoms, and understanding the bidirectional signaling between the gut microbiota and the nervous system may provide new insights into the pathophysiology and treatment of these disorders.The article reviews the bidirectional interactions between the brain, gut, and enteric microbiota, highlighting their roles in health and disease. The brain can influence the gut through changes in gastrointestinal motility, secretion, and permeability, as well as via signaling molecules released by enterochromaffin cells, neurons, and immune cells. The gut can communicate with the host through multiple mechanisms, including epithelial-cell signaling and direct stimulation of host cells in the lamina propria. Enterochromaffin cells, which are key transducers, play a crucial role in regulating communication between the gut lumen and the nervous system. Stress can modulate the composition and biomass of the enteric microbiota, affecting gut functions such as motility and immune response. The article also discusses the potential therapeutic implications of these interactions, particularly in conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Probiotics and prebiotics have shown promise in treating IBS symptoms, and understanding the bidirectional signaling between the gut microbiota and the nervous system may provide new insights into the pathophysiology and treatment of these disorders.