The human mind and its regulation have always been a mystery that fascinates almost every human. Researchers around the world have tried to put forward an explanation and a decent theory of what alters the emotions and other sentiments in humans for decades now. One such group of studies recently suggested that the answer lies within the smallest creatures on earth – the microbes.

The study of microorganisms in the gut that have the capability of affecting human emotions is tagged as ‘psychobiotics’ or ‘mood microbes’ by the scientists. The very first research that ignited these studies was performed at Kyushu University, Japan. A neuropsychiatrist at the McMaster University, Canada Jane Foster explained that the Kyushu study was very helpful in understanding the concept of psychobiotics and studying their effects and relation with anxiety and depression.

The question remains as to how does the microbiome affect neural transmissions in our body. There have been numerous evidences on how the microbes can affect our immune system, resulting in several brain disorders. In addition to this, the short fatty acid chains formed by the bacterial action involved in fiber breakdown inside our bodies affects almost every organ. A research also shows that the microbes might be using the microRNA, which is a non-coding RNA, for the manipulation of normal cell functioning by causing DNA damage. The most obvious route remains the ‘vagus nerve’ that connects the gut to the brain. Besides, some organisms in the microbiota in the gut have been found to produce neurotransmitters like – GABA, Acetylcholine, Norepinephrine, Dopamine which are known to affect mood.

A similarly associated study is being conducted by Prof. Ted Dinan at the Cork University Hospital, where he is studying how the microbiome affects the patients suffering from depression. As per his observations, the diversity in the microbiome among the depressed patients is narrower, as compared to the mentally healthy individuals.

This is relatably a novel field of research that requires more pieces of evidence and detailed studies. However, the microbiome study is currently one of the most focused areas of medical research as it is related to so many deadly diseases and disorders that are known to affect human beings such as autism and Parkinson’s disease. Hence, the microbiome is a promising field of interest for the entire medical scientific community.

The author is a student of Amity centre of Happiness