Now they show that duodenal contractions decreased following a meal in preterm, but not term infants. In contrast to the results in preterm infants, healthy adults increase their duodenal contractions after feedings and maintain a steady rate of gastric emptying, regardless of meal size. The duodenal brake that served a protective function in the neonate caused delayed gastric emptying as it persisted past infancy. These observations may provide the physiological explanation for why overfeeding is associated with postprandial emesis. Infants with recurrent postprandial regurgitation should be frequently fed to satiety, but not overfed.
Gastrointestinal motility is controlled by the nerves and muscles within the gastrointestinal tract.
Although the patterns of contraction and relaxation are complex, all the programming necessary for proper digestion is self-contained in the bowel wall. The normal patterns of the nerves and muscles are influenced every day by many factors. Sleeping and waking changes motility, as does exercise. Emotional distress can also have profound effects on gastrointestinal motility. Even the food that you eat releases substances into the blood which influence motility.