The gastrointestinal tract possesses an intrinsic nervous system whose morphology, function, and neuropeptides show many similarities to those of the brain. The central nervous system and the gut's intrinsic nervous plexus are linked together by a network of extrinsic nerve fibers. The majority of these nerve fibers are afferent and relate messages from the gut to the central nervous system. The remainder are efferent fibers which can excite or inhibit gut activity by influencing mechanisms within the intrinsic nervous plexus. Many syndromes of altered gut activity are ascribed to psychosomatic factors, and treatment of these disorders is frequently directed at the central nervous system. Although substituted benzamides act on the central nervous system, enforcement of central nervous control of gut activity does not seem relevant to their clinical efficacy and little is known about their effect on sensations originating in the gut. It is tempting to ascribe similar activities for these agents both in the gut and in the brain. Nevertheless, it appears that cholinergic rather than antidopaminergic mechanisms govern the peripheral actions of these agents.