The strong link between the gut and the brain has been established for a while now, but scientists have explored the effect of probiotics on the central nervous system, and found that a strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (JB-1) can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in mice. Significantly, they found that mice who have had their vagus nerve removed have no symptom reduction, hence defining the vagus nerve as the major communication pathway between the bacteria exposed to the gut and the brain.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

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