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Gut-Brain Psychology: Rethinking Psychology From the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis

Shan Liang, Xiaoli Wu, Feng Jin

Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience · 2018 · Review

doi:10.3389/fnint.2018.00033 (opens in a new tab)

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Abstract

Mental disorders and neurological diseases are becoming a rapidly increasing medical burden. Although extensive studies have been conducted, the progress in developing effective therapies for these diseases has still been slow. The current dilemma reminds us that the human being is a superorganism. Only when we take the human self and its partner microbiota into consideration at the same time, can we better understand these diseases. Over the last few centuries, the partner microbiota has experienced tremendous change, much more than human genes, because of the modern transformations in diet, lifestyle, medical care, and so on, parallel to the modern epidemiological transition. Existing research indicates that gut microbiota plays an important role in this transition. According to gut-brain psychology, the gut microbiota is a crucial part of the gut-brain network, and it communicates with the brain via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The gut microbiota almost develops synchronously with the gut-brain, brain, and mind. The gut microbiota influences various normal mental processes and mental phenomena, and is involved in the pathophysiology of numerous mental and neurological diseases. Targeting the microbiota in therapy for these diseases is a promising approach that is supported by three theories: the gut microbiota hypothesis, the "old friend" hypothesis, and the leaky gut theory. The effects of gut microbiota on the brain and behavior are fulfilled by the microbiota-gut-brain axis, which is mainly composed of the nervous pathway, endocrine pathway, and immune pathway. Undoubtedly, gut-brain psychology will bring great enhancement to psychology, neuroscience, and psychiatry. Various microbiota-improving methods including fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics, a healthy diet, and healthy lifestyle have shown the capability to promote the function of the gut-brain, microbiota-gut-brain axis, and brain. It will be possible to harness the gut microbiota to improve brain and mental health and prevent and treat related diseases in the future.

Figures3

From PubMed Central, U.S. National Library of Medicine.

FIGURE 1
Full legend
The ever-increasing medical burden induced by mental disorders and neurological diseases (DALYs and Collaborators, 2016, 2017). (A,B) Shows the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) induced by mental disorders and neurological diseases, respectively. (C,D) Shows the DALYs induced by different diseases in 1990, 2006, and 2016.
Open FIGURE 1 full size (opens in a new tab)

FIGURE 2
The gut-brain, brain, and mentality develop almost synchronously throughout the lifespan. The gut-brain, brain, and mentality undergo similar developmental patterns; all three are susceptible to several factors that influence the gut microbiota. Myelination, intestinal length, and the gut microbiota develop almost synchronously. Diet plays an important role in the maturation of the gut-brain and brain, and mentality is regulated by the development of the brain and gut-brain. Microbiota disruption at different stages is likely to increase the incidence of different mental disorders.
Full legend
The gut-brain, brain, and mentality develop almost synchronously throughout the lifespan. The gut-brain, brain, and mentality undergo similar developmental patterns; all three are susceptible to several factors that influence the gut microbiota. Myelination, intestinal length, and the gut microbiota develop almost synchronously. Diet plays an important role in the maturation of the gut-brain and brain, and mentality is regulated by the development of the brain and gut-brain. Microbiota disruption at different stages is likely to increase the incidence of different mental disorders.
Open FIGURE 2 full size (opens in a new tab)

FIGURE 3
The gut-brain communicates with the brain mainly via three pathways of the microbiota–gut–brain axis. First, the gut microbiota influences the synthesis and secretion of neurotransmitters, including 5-HT, GABA, DA, NE, Glu, and ACh. Gut signals can activate the ENS and primary afferents as well as transmit messages to the brain through the vagus nerve and the sympathetic nervous system. Second, the gut microbiota impacts the concentration and function of neuropeptides that include neuropeptides, gut peptides, OT, and opioid peptides and neurohormones, such as melatonin, communicating with the brain through the neuroendocrine pathway, including the HPA axis and hypothalamus-pituitary-other peripheral glands axis. Third, the gut microbiota regulates the function of TJs and TLRs in the gut barrier and BBB, adjusts the differentiation of lymphocytes, and impacts the brain via the immune pathway. Additionally, the bioactive products of the microbiota also influence the microbiota–gut–brain axis. The five influential factors on the left protect the microbiota and the mucous layer, leading to the production of beneficial substances, such as SCFA, by the microbiota, which results in an anti-inflammatory environment; meanwhile, the five factors on the right are likely to interrupt the normal function of the gut-brain, which can induce mucus loss and microbiota disturbance, leading to the production of harmful substances such as lipopolysaccharide and NH3 and resulting in a pro-inflammatory environment. NP, Neuropeptides; GP, Gut peptides; OP, Opioid peptides; MT, Melatonin; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; MC, M cell; EC, Enteroendocrine cell.
Full legend
The gut-brain communicates with the brain mainly via three pathways of the microbiota–gut–brain axis. First, the gut microbiota influences the synthesis and secretion of neurotransmitters, including 5-HT, GABA, DA, NE, Glu, and ACh. Gut signals can activate the ENS and primary afferents as well as transmit messages to the brain through the vagus nerve and the sympathetic nervous system. Second, the gut microbiota impacts the concentration and function of neuropeptides that include neuropeptides, gut peptides, OT, and opioid peptides and neurohormones, such as melatonin, communicating with the brain through the neuroendocrine pathway, including the HPA axis and hypothalamus-pituitary-other peripheral glands axis. Third, the gut microbiota regulates the function of TJs and TLRs in the gut barrier and BBB, adjusts the differentiation of lymphocytes, and impacts the brain via the immune pathway. Additionally, the bioactive products of the microbiota also influence the microbiota–gut–brain axis. The five influential factors on the left protect the microbiota and the mucous layer, leading to the production of beneficial substances, such as SCFA, by the microbiota, which results in an anti-inflammatory environment; meanwhile, the five factors on the right are likely to interrupt the normal function of the gut-brain, which can induce mucus loss and microbiota disturbance, leading to the production of harmful substances such as lipopolysaccharide and NH3 and resulting in a pro-inflammatory environment. NP, Neuropeptides; GP, Gut peptides; OP, Opioid peptides; MT, Melatonin; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; MC, M cell; EC, Enteroendocrine cell.
Open FIGURE 3 full size (opens in a new tab)

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