07/31/2015

Can Intestinal Bacteria Shape Response to Early-Life Stress?

8:00 minutes

Have a gut feeling? A growing body of research suggests that intestinal bacteria have mood-altering powers. A new study using mice investigates how anxiety and depression from early-life trauma could be triggered by bacteria in the gut. Premsyl Bercik, an author on that study and an associate professor at McMaster University in Ontario, discusses the gut-brain connection.

Segment Guests

Premysl Bercik

Staff Gastroenterologist and Associate Professor
Department of Medicine
Member of Farncombe Institute of Digestive Health
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario

Meet the Producers and Host

About Alexa Lim

Alexa Lim was a senior producer for Science Friday. Her favorite stories involve space, sound, and strange animal discoveries.

About Elah Feder

Elah Feder is the former senior producer for podcasts at Science Friday. She produces the Science Diction podcast, and co-hosted and produced the Undiscovered podcast.