Have you ever wondered why we throw up? It might seem gross, but vomiting can actually be a lifesaver. When we eat something harmful, our body has a way to get rid of it by making us vomit. But why do we vomit even when we haven’t eaten anything bad, like when we have the flu, are pregnant, feel carsick, or get nervous before a big event?
In the back of our brains, there’s a special control center that decides if we need to throw up. This center gets information from different sources to make its decision, but none of these sources are perfect.
The first source of information comes from our blood. If we’ve eaten something toxic, harmful substances can quickly move from our stomach into our bloodstream. Special cells in the brain’s control center check the blood for toxins or germs. If they find something dangerous, the brain tells the body to vomit to get rid of it. However, sometimes medicines or viruses can also cause vomiting, even if they didn’t come from the stomach.
The control center also pays attention to how nauseous we feel. If we eat something that seems off or dangerous, our nervous system sends signals of nausea. This feeling usually makes us stop eating the risky food. But if the nausea gets too strong, the brain will make us vomit to protect us. Even things like riding in a car on a twisty road or getting ready for a big presentation can make us feel nauseous and lead to vomiting.
The last source of information is the state of our stomach. A nerve connects our stomach to our brain, telling it how full the stomach is. If we’ve eaten too much or have a blockage, the stomach sends a signal to the brain to relieve the pressure by vomiting. During pregnancy, hormones can confuse this process, making the nerve signal fullness even when the stomach isn’t full, causing repeated vomiting.
It’s a good thing our brain’s control center is so careful because it helped our ancestors survive by avoiding dangerous substances. But today, we face many new situations that our bodies aren’t used to, which can make the control center more active.
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Draw a diagram that shows the process of vomiting, starting from the detection of harmful substances in the blood to the act of vomiting. Label each part of the process and include the brain’s control center, blood signals, nausea signals, and stomach signals. This will help you visualize how different parts of your body work together to protect you.
In groups, role-play the different parts of the body involved in vomiting. Assign roles such as the brain’s control center, blood cells, stomach, and nervous system. Act out a scenario where the body needs to decide whether to vomit. This activity will help you understand the decision-making process of the brain.
Research different triggers of nausea, such as motion sickness, pregnancy, or anxiety. Prepare a short presentation to share with the class. Explain why these triggers cause nausea and how they relate to the brain’s control center. This will deepen your understanding of why we vomit in various situations.
Perform a simple experiment to explore how balance affects nausea. Spin around in a circle for a minute and then try to walk in a straight line. Record how you feel before and after spinning. Discuss with your classmates how this relates to the brain’s control center and its role in vomiting.
Write a creative story from the perspective of the brain’s control center as it receives signals from the blood, stomach, and nervous system. Describe a day in the life of the control center, making decisions about whether to vomit. This will help you empathize with the brain’s role in keeping you safe.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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If you’ve eaten something harmful, throwing up can be a lifesaver. We humans eject the contents of our stomachs fairly frequently, but most of us haven’t inadvertently poisoned ourselves; instead, we might have the flu, be pregnant, feel carsick, or experience stage fright. Why do we vomit so much?
In the back of our brains, we have a control center that helps determine whether we’ve ingested something we should expel. This center uses various sources of information to make its decision, but none of these sources are perfectly reliable.
The first source of information comes from the blood. If you’ve consumed something toxic, harmful substances can quickly diffuse from your stomach into your bloodstream. Specialized cells in the control center constantly sample nearby blood vessels; if they detect high levels of toxins or pathogens, the center will initiate a response to rid you of the harmful substance. However, there are many ways for substances to enter your bloodstream, so medications and certain viruses can also lead to vomiting even if they haven’t gone through your stomach.
The control center also monitors your nausea levels. When you’re in a potentially dangerous situation—like eating something that seems off or consuming certain mushrooms—your nervous system sends signals of nausea. This discomfort usually prompts you to stop the risky behavior, but if nausea becomes intense enough, the control center will trigger vomiting to prevent further harm. Non-food-related situations, such as driving on a winding road or preparing for a presentation, can also induce nausea and lead to vomiting.
The final source of information for the control center is the state of your stomach. A nerve connects your gut to your brain, sending signals about how full your stomach is. If you’ve overeaten or have a blockage, your stomach sends an alarm signal, prompting the control center to relieve the pressure through vomiting. However, hormones produced during pregnancy can sometimes interfere with this process, causing the nerve to signal fullness even when the stomach isn’t actually full, leading to repeated vomiting.
It’s fortunate that our control centers prioritize safety, as this likely helped our ancestors survive. However, in today’s world, we encounter many new experiences that our bodies and brains aren’t fully prepared for, leading to increased activity in our control centers.
This video was sponsored by Fabulous, the self-care app that helps you achieve your goals. Just thinking about making life changes can be overwhelming; every year, a significant percentage of New Year’s resolutions are abandoned within the first couple of months. The Fabulous app uses proven methods from behavioral science to help you make lasting changes to your daily routine and provides coaching to guide you along the way. I use Fabulous to improve my sleep schedule, which has been a bit inconsistent lately. The app offers small steps to get started—like avoiding social media before bed for a few nights—and provides a roadmap to reach my goals, along with short challenges to keep me motivated. If you want to develop better habits, you can download the app using the link in the description. The first 100 people who click the link will receive a discount on a Fabulous subscription. Thank you, Fabulous.
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This version removes any potentially sensitive or inappropriate language while maintaining the overall message and content.
Vomit – To expel the contents of the stomach through the mouth – After eating spoiled food, he felt sick and had to vomit to feel better.
Brain – The organ inside the skull that controls thoughts, memory, and other functions – The brain is responsible for processing all the information that comes from our senses.
Blood – The red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins, carrying oxygen and nutrients to the body – Blood travels through the body, delivering essential nutrients to cells and removing waste products.
Toxins – Harmful substances produced by living organisms that can cause disease – The liver helps to filter toxins from the blood to keep the body healthy.
Germs – Microorganisms, especially those that cause disease – Washing your hands regularly helps to prevent the spread of germs.
Nausea – A feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit – She experienced nausea after spinning around too quickly on the playground.
Stomach – The organ in the body where food is digested – The stomach uses acids and enzymes to break down the food we eat.
Signals – Messages sent between cells or organs to communicate information – The brain sends signals to the muscles to tell them when to move.
Hormones – Chemical substances produced in the body that regulate various physiological processes – Hormones like insulin help control the amount of sugar in the blood.
Control – To regulate or manage the function of something – The nervous system helps control the body’s responses to different stimuli.
