Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviewsSep 18, 2017

Do gut bacteria influence our development? Communication between gut microbes and the body's stress system

Gut-Brain Axis Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 2, 2026

Abstract

The human intestine houses as many bacteria as there are human body cells.

Intestinal bacteria may influence human health, emotions, behavior, and cognitive functions.
The HPA axis is a key system that regulates stress responses and brain development.
Both the HPA axis and intestinal microbiota undergo significant changes during early life.
Early environmental disturbances could disrupt the development of both the HPA axis and gut bacteria.
Early adversity is associated with imbalances in these systems and may lead to emotional and behavioral issues.

Simplified

The human body contains as many bacteria in the intestine as the total number of human body cells. These bacteria have a central position in human health and disease, and would also play a role in the regulation of emotions, behavior, and even higher cognitive functions. The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (HPA axis) is a major physiological stress system that produces cortisol. This hormone is involved in responding to environmental stress and also shapes many aspects of brain development. Both the HPA axis and the intestinal microbiota show rapid and profound developmental changes during the first years of life. Early environmental disturbances can affect the development of both systems. Early adversity, for example, is known to lead to later unbalances in both, as well as to psychopathological behavior and emotions. The goal of this theoretical review is to summarize current knowledge on the developmental crosstalk between the intestinal microbiota and the HPA axis, providing a basis for understanding the development and bidirectional communication between these two essential systems in human functioning.

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Do gut bacteria influence our development? Communication between gut microbes and the body's stress system

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