Investigating Remote Electrogastrogram Modulation Via Emotional and Eating Stimuli: A Sham-Controlled Pilot Study

Abstract

This pilot study investigated whether gastrointestinal activity, measured via electrogastrography (EGG), can be influenced nonlocally by a distant, emotionally bonded partner. Using a double-blind, sham-controlled design, thirty adult pairs were randomized to a Real or Sham condition. In the Real condition, the Sender experienced sad and food-related stimuli (selecting and eating food) while intending to transmit their experience to the distant Receiver; in the Sham condition, no stimuli were presented. Although the preregistered hypothesis predicting amplitude changes was not supported, a Linear Mixed-Effects analysis identified a significant Condition × Epoch interaction for EGG frequency. Follow-up tests showed unexpectedly large decreases in Receiver gastric frequency during the Sender’s “sad” epoch and more robustly during the “eating” epoch. This specific slowing of gastric rhythm aligns with parasympathetic (vagal) modulation rather than a generalized sympathetic response. These preliminary results suggest that EGG frequency may be a sensitive physiological marker of nonlocal interpersonal influence, particularly for enteroceptive states involving eating, although the underlying autonomic pathway cannot be determined from EGG alone.