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b_b · 4107 days ago · link · · parent · post: Gut Bacteria Might Guide The Workings Of Our Minds : Shots - Health News : NPR
Hooray for researchers like these! It's obvious to pretty much everyone except for a certain class of brain scientists (and computer scientists) that the brain doesn't operate in a vacuum. Understanding how humans work requires understanding the human and all of our travelling companions (fun fact: 90% of the cells on/in you are bacterial; i.e. not you). Other evidence shows that the microbiome can contribute to obesity, and obesity obviously has secondary effects on mood and disposition, as well as overall health. So there seem to be multiple mechanisms by which these colonies can directly alter our behavior and personality. Quite fascinating.