Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Gut-Brain Axis

Gut-Brain Axis

The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such...

Functions of the Gut Microbiota

Functions of the Gut Microbiota

The gut microbiota includes trillions of microorganisms that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. This complex ecosystem plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal and systemic health. Most of these microbes inhabit the large intestine, establishing a relatively stable and diverse community that contributes to gut homeostasis through various metabolic, immunological, and protective mechanisms.Dominant bacterial phyla, such as...

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity,...

The Oral Microbiota

The Oral Microbiota

The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...

Development of Human Microbiota

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from...

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Psychological characteristics and coping strategies of affected others of patients with gambling disorder.

Frontiers in psychology·2026

Same author

Specialized, integrative treatment for long-standing eating disorders: early insights and implications.

Journal of eating disorders·2026

Same author

Phenotypes associated with problematic online gaming and gambling: A clustering approach among young adults.

Addictive behaviors reports·2026

Same author

Evaluated Childhood Obesity Prevention and Management Programs in Europe, 2015-2024: A Structured Narrative Review of Behavioral and Anthropometric Outcomes.

Nutrients·2026

Same author

A taste of (dis)trust: do social cynicism and gratitude predict and reciprocate addiction-like eating?

Journal of eating disorders·2026

Same author

Neurocognitive performance and appetite-regulating hormones in obesity with and without eating disorders: A comprehensive review and empirical analysis.

Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Intracerebroventricular Delivery of Gut-Derived Microbial Metabolites in Freely Moving Mice

Intracerebroventricular Delivery of Gut-Derived Microbial Metabolites in Freely Moving Mice

Published on: June 2, 2022

Gut Microbiota Interacts With Brain Microstructure and Function.

José-Manuel Fernandez-Real¹, Matteo Serino¹, Gerard Blasco¹

¹Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition (J.-M.F.-R., W.R.), Institut d'Investigació Biomédica de Girona, CIBER de la Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición (CIBERobn, CB06/03/0010) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Girona, 17007 Spain; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (M.S., R.B.), Toulouse, France; Unité Mixte de Recherche 1048 (M.S., R.B.), Institut de Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires, Université Paul Sabatier, F-31432 Toulouse Cedex 4, France; Girona Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Radiology-Institut de Diagnostic per la Imatge (G.B., J.P.), Hospital Universitari Dr Josep Trueta, Girona, 17007 Spain; Department of Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics (J.D.-E.), University of Girona, Girona, 17071 Spain; Department of Psychiatry (F.F.-A.), University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, CIBERobn, Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, 08908 Spain; and Nutren Group, Department of Experimental Medicine (M.P.-O.), PCiTAL-IRBLleida-Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, 25198 Spain.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism

|October 8, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Obesity alters the gut microbiome, impacting brain structure and cognitive function. Increased gut bacterial diversity is linked to better brain health and cognitive performance in humans.

More Related Videos

A Gut-on-a-Chip Model to Study the Gut Microbiome-Nervous System Axis

A Gut-on-a-Chip Model to Study the Gut Microbiome-Nervous System Axis

Published on: July 28, 2023

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Intracerebroventricular Delivery of Gut-Derived Microbial Metabolites in Freely Moving Mice

Intracerebroventricular Delivery of Gut-Derived Microbial Metabolites in Freely Moving Mice

Published on: June 2, 2022

A Gut-on-a-Chip Model to Study the Gut Microbiome-Nervous System Axis

A Gut-on-a-Chip Model to Study the Gut Microbiome-Nervous System Axis

Published on: July 28, 2023

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Microbiology
Human Health

Background:

Animal studies suggest gut microbiota influences brain structure and function.
Human evidence for this gut-brain axis connection remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate interactions between gut microbiota composition, brain microstructure, and cognitive performance in obese versus nonobese individuals.
To identify specific microbiota-brain signatures associated with obesity.

Main Methods:

Cross-sectional study involving obese and nonobese participants.
Analysis of gut microbiota using 16S bacterial gene pyrosequencing.
Assessment of brain microstructure via diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and R2* MRI sequences.
Evaluation of cognitive function using standardized tests.

Main Results:

A distinct gut microbiota-brain map profile differentiated obese from nonobese subjects with 81% accuracy.
Higher bacterial diversity (Shannon index) correlated with preserved microstructure in key brain regions (hypothalamus, caudate nucleus, hippocampus).
Gut microbiota composition, particularly the Actinobacteria phylum, was associated with DTI measures in brain regions like the thalamus and amygdala, and with cognitive functions including processing speed, attention, and cognitive flexibility.

Conclusions:

Obesity significantly influences the crosstalk between gut microbiota and brain microstructure.
Gut microbiota composition plays a role in modulating brain structure and cognitive function in humans, particularly in the context of obesity.