Can Probiotics Affect Decision-Making?

Source: International Probiotics Association

Following your gut instincts is one way of making decisions. Now emerging research suggests that the gut may be more involved in decision-making than previously thought. Choices may be influenced by microbial mechanisms in the gut.

Whether or not those decisions are prudent may actually depend partly on gut microbiota. The proper ecological balance of the gut microbiota is known to affect cognitive function and fundamental behavior patterns, such as social interaction and stress management.

Recently, a team of researchers in the Netherlands investigated whether administered probiotics would affect risky and intertemporal (relationship between past, present, and future events or conditions) decision-making in human subjects.

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