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Gut Bacteria Exert Mind Control

Posted by Soulskill on from the lactobacillus-colbertsus dept.

sciencehabit writes "Hundreds of species of bacteria call the human gut their home. This gut 'microbiome' influences our physiology and health in ways that scientists are only beginning to understand. Now, a new study suggests that gut bacteria can even mess with the mind, altering brain chemistry and changing mood and behavior (abstract)."

10 of 221 comments (clear)

  1. Already knew that... by SpasticWeasel · · Score: 3, Funny

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasites_Lost

    --
    No sooner do I get over one, then you put a better one right next to me. Bastards.
  2. Unnerving by Verdatum · · Score: 3, Funny

    I liked the bit where they cut the vagus nerve. Before I got to that point in TFA, I was thinking "Well sure, rats fed lactobacillus will have lower stress levels! Life isn't as stressful when you poop good!"

  3. chemicals by Haven · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There is far more serotonin present in your gut than in your skull.

  4. I wasn't going to post anything by SmurfButcher+Bob · · Score: 3, Funny

    but I just had this gut feeling that something bad would happen if I didn't.

    --

    help me i've cloned myself and can't remember which one I am

  5. Re:Well by hrvatska · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think these are more like innerlords.

  6. Charles Dickens nailed it by FranTaylor · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "You don't believe in me," observed the Ghost.

    "I don't." said Scrooge.

    "What evidence would you have of my reality, beyond that of your senses?"

    "I don't know," said Scrooge.

    "Why do you doubt your senses?"

    "Because," said Scrooge, "a little thing affects them. A slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato. There's more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!"

  7. My Gut Reaction by ichthus · · Score: 3, Funny

    My gut tells me this story is complete nonsense. Yep, nothing to see here. Move along.

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    sig: sauer
  8. Re:Well by Sulphur · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think these are more like innerlords.

    This too shall pass away.

    --

    Never let a computer or a cat know that you are in a hurry.

  9. Re:vastly outnumbered by our bacterial overlords by thunderclap · · Score: 3, Funny

    So you are saying that Vegans are crazy because they don't eat meat and those microbes exert a greater influence because of it?

  10. Re:Interesting. by Belial6 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I know it's fun to make fun of the big bad corporation, but really. Gassy and ADD? If you are getting gassy from McDonald's food, it isn't because the food is bad. It is because your digestive system is broken. And ADD? That is just pulling things out of thin air.