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Bidirectional relations between the maternal and infant gut microbiome and behavior
Caroline Kelsey1,2,3, Robert Moulder4, Heath Yancey5
1Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. cmkelsey@illinois.edu.
Pediatric Research
|December 12, 2025
Summary
The infant gut microbiome, not the maternal microbiome, influences infant temperament. These findings reveal complex bidirectional gut-behavior links between mothers and infants during the first year of life.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Developmental psychology
- Maternal and child health
Background:
- The maternal microbiome is a primary source of neonatal microbial colonization.
- Infant-maternal dyad microbial variations are linked to behavioral traits and mental health.
- The gut microbiome's influence on maternal mental health and infant behavior is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between gut microbiota and behavior in mother-infant dyads.
- To explore within-person and between-person relationships over the first year of postnatal life.
- To understand the bidirectional influence of the gut microbiome on maternal and infant well-being.
Main Methods:
- Metagenomic sequencing of stool samples from mothers and infants.
- Behavioral questionnaires to assess temperament and mental health.
- Longitudinal study design across the first year of infant life (121 dyads).
Main Results:
- Infant gut microbiota diversity and composition changed rapidly, while maternal microbiomes remained stable.
- Specific infant gut microbes and functional genes correlated with infant temperament.
- No associations were found between maternal depression symptoms and maternal gut taxa or functions.
Conclusions:
- Evidence supports complex within- and between-person gut-behavior relationships in mother-infant dyads.
- Infant gut microbiome composition is associated with infant behavioral temperament.
- Bidirectional influences between the gut microbiome and behavior exist between mothers and infants.
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