Gut Feelings Research Group 2.09

The gut and the brain are connected by multiple signalling pathways including nerve, hormone and immune pathways. It is now accepted that the gut and the brain communicate along these pathways and that mental health and stress can influence gut function and abnormalities in the gut can change the brain and behaviour. The gut feelings research group focuses on this bidirectional relationship between the gut and the brain in patients with both mental health disorders and gastrointestinal disorders. We are particularly interested in how changes in bacteria in the gut may contribute to mental health.

There are trillions of bacteria living in the human gut that are essential for breaking down food and normal digestive health. Recently we have learned that bacteria in our gut also communicate with our brain and may be important for mental health. Studies in animals have shown that changing the bacteria in the gut can change anxiety behaviour in the mouse. Our group is working to explore whether gut bacteria are also important for mental health in humans. We are conducting some of the first studies in humans on the gut bacteria profile of patients with psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. We are also working to understand how gut bacteria may contribute to anxiety and depression in patients with gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.

We hope that understanding the role our gut bacteria play in mental health could lead to improved prevention and treatment for patients with psychiatric and gastrointestinal disorders.