Ineresting to hear Dr. Gershon quoted on this maiing list.  You see, I
went to medical school at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons,
where he teaches histology (the study of living cells and tissues.)  I
remember him making a big deal about the enteric nervous system, and
quizzed us on it quite brutally. However, I seem to remember him saying
that the purpose of the enteric nervous system was to take care of a lot
of reflexes and "busy work" so that the brain wouldn't have to be
directly in control of digestion.  In other words, the enteric nervous
system allows the gut to function independently, and not "bother" the
brain with all of its intricate reflexes.  It probably doesn't have as
much to do with emotions, per se.

That is not to say that the gut isn't affected be emotions...we all know
it is.  Butterflies in the stomach, nervous diarrhea, defacating when
frightened are all real phenomena.  However, those emotions are
initiated in the brain and through neural connections and stress
hormones affect the gut.

Caroline, MD