The gut illustrated as a control room

Our Brains and Guts

Is your gut the one running the show?

We think of the brain as the body's control centre. But research shows many of the body's most important functions start with signals from the gut.

Our researchers study our microbiomes and how they influence the communications between our guts and our brains, affecting everything from our health to our mental states to our relationships. Because while our brains are in charge, the bugs in our bodies have a pretty big say, too.


All media for this topic

An abstraction of a microbe

Ebook — How to shape a healthy microbiome

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A child lathers their hair

Video — Let them eat dirt: Hygiene and the microbiome

Watch video

Image of hands washing under a faucet

Video — Can cleanliness make you sick?

Watch video

An image of a child with a dirty face

Ebook — Mighty microbiome: helping your child build a strong immune system

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Illustration of a human torso with highlighted gut

Podcast — Can our microbes make us healthier?

Listen to podcast

A stylized illustration of microbes

On-demand talk — Our lifestyles, our microbes: The hidden connection

Watch the talk

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