What Your Gut Bacteria Say About You
The 100 trillion microbes that live in your gut know—and influence—you from the inside out. So what can they tell you about yourself? Here's a taste...
By Jena Pincott
"You Found Wisdom Among the Dahlias "
A bacterium in soil called M. vaccae may be a cognitive enhancer, found a study published in Behavioural Processes. After mice ate a peanut-butter-flavored dose of the bug, they navigated mazes twice as fast as those not treated. Turns out, M. vaccae are among the gut bacteria that trigger a rise in serotonin—which not only calms us but also boosts memory and concentration. (For mice, the "superbrain" effect lasted for at least a week after the last exposure.) We inhale and ingest this microbe when we're around dirt and plants; to what extent might it help us navigate life's mazes? Stay tuned.
Published 09/23/2013