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Updated: Sep 19, 2025
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A Gut-on-a-Chip Model to Study the Gut Microbiome-Nervous System Axis
Published on: July 28, 2023
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Gut microbiome is associated with insula structure in neonates.
Michelle Graf1, Nicolas Murgueitio2, Margaret A Sheridan2
1School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing, Richmond, VA, USA.
Physiology & Behavior
|June 18, 2025
Summary
Early infant gut microbiome composition is linked to brain structure development. Specific bacteria, like Veillonella, correlate with brain region volumes, suggesting a developing gut-brain axis in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- The infant brain and gut microbiome undergo rapid development in early life.
- Emerging evidence suggests the gut microbiome influences neurodevelopment, particularly in areas processing affect, interoception, and sensory information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the gut microbiome and brain structures in 2-week-old infants.
- To identify specific microbial characteristics linked to neonatal brain development.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess brain volumes.
- Whole genome sequencing of fecal samples characterized the gut microbiome composition.
Main Results:
- Significant relationships were found between gut microbiome features and volumes of brain regions involved in affective, sensory, and interoceptive processing.
- A negative association was observed between insula volume and the abundance of Veillonella.
- Alpha diversity and functional pathways also correlated with insula structure; Enterobacter abundance was negatively associated with thalamus volume.
Conclusions:
- These findings support a developing gut-brain axis, demonstrating early links between the gut microbiome and brain structure at 2 weeks of age.
- The insula appears particularly sensitive to gut microbiome influences during the neonatal period.
- Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms and long-term implications of these early gut-brain interactions on neurodevelopment and behavior.
