The bacteria in your gut can talk to your brain.No, really.It might sound like science fiction, but you’ve probably heard the phrase ‘gut-brain axis’ used in recent years to describe this phenomenon. What we call the “gut” actually refers to the small and large intestines, where a collection of microorganisms known as the gut microbiome reside. In addition to the microbes that inhabit it, your gut contains around 500 million neurons, which connect to your brain through bidirectional nerves – the biggest of which is the vagus nerve. Bacteria might be able to interact with specialized sensory cells within the gut lining and trigger neuronal firing from the gut to the brain. Our guest this week is Caroline Hernández, a PhD student in the Maude David Lab in the Department of Microbiology, and she is studying exactly this phenomenon.

Hosted by Grace Deitzler & Miriam Lipton

Check out the ID Blog: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/inspiration/2022/02/26/trusting-your-gut-lessons-in-molecular-neuroscience-and-mental-health/