MIND CONTROL?!?!?

Image source: http://www.wbur.org

            Are you really in control of your behavior, emotions, and thoughts?? Well of course! But there has been recent developments in various studies stemming from HMP that are looking into the possibility of this. In a study by Dr. Emeran Mayer there are strong indications that bacteria from our gut may be influencing us and possibly even playing a role with the development of the human brain. Dr. Mayer began testing this hypothesis of his by performing brain scans on participants and examining the species of bacteria that was living in their gut. It appears from this information that connections to certain regions in people’s brains develop differently depending on what bacteria is in their gut. Another research team has been experimenting with mice to see if changing the mix of microbes within their gut will result in changes of behavior. In one test the researchers replaced microbes from the gut from mice that were anxious with microbes from fearless mice. The amazing result was that these previously anxious mice now appear to be freed from their timid ways. This study also tested what changes could be observed when the microbial communities within the mice guts were changed through diet, probiotics, and antibiotics. Astoundingly they recorded major changes in behavior and when they looked further into what was happening found that after modifying the bacteria in the guts of the mice there was noticeable changes in the chemicals that effect the brain in areas such as mood, emotion, and memory. So how exactly would bacteria in the gut even effect the brain? The vagus nerve happens to connect the gut and the brain in order for communications of the cells in the gut to signal the brain for various purposes. The bacteria is suspected of also sending signals to the brain. Another break-through study found a correlation on gut bacteria and autism behaviors in mice, and once given certain probiotics the behaviors were all of a sudden non-existent. These researchers and many in the medical field are eager to see what scale relations are between the microbial communities with in humans and brain functions, and are excited with the implications it could have for treatment of psychiatric treatments. Some early testing of the introduction of certain probiotics to people with diagnosed psychiatric disorders is showing promising signs.