Neuroimaging reveals consistent but distinct brain activation patterns in response to esophageal versus lower GI visceral stimulation.
Activation sites are reasonably well clustered within stimulus modality, implying consistent brain response to visceral sensation. The differences in reported activation during esophageal and lower GI sensation imply altered motor, autonomic, and affect response during distension at opposite ends of the GI tract that may be explored in future studies.
Stuart Derbyshire (Wed,) studied this question.