Stress and the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis

The concept of the gut influencing brain and behaviour has existed for almost 2 centuries. However, this gut-brain axis has been best appreciated and studied in the context of eating behaviour. Nonetheless, despite this concept being widely integrated into our everyday vernacular (gut feelings, gut instinct, gutted, gutsy, it takes guts, butterflies in one’s tummy), it was not until the advent of brain imaging that neuroscientists really began to appreciate the influence of this axis on modulating brain function and maintaining homeostasis, especially during stressful situations.