Study reveals that changes to the gut microbiome can change the way the brain works

A new Northwestern University study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that gut microbiomes from different primate species influence brain function in mice. The study found that mice with gut microbes from large-brained primates like humans and squirrel monkeys showed increased gene expression related to energy production and learning, while mice with microbes from smaller-brained primates like macaques showed less of these processes. The findings suggest that the gut microbiome may play a role in the evolution of brain size and function across species and could potentially contribute to the development of certain psychological disorders.