Diet induces parallel changes to the gut microbiota and problem solving performance in a wild bird

Mapping Intimacies ◽

10.1101/827741 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gabrielle L. Davidson ◽

Niamh Wiley ◽

Amy C. Cooke ◽

Crystal N. Johnson ◽

Fiona Fouhy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Problem Solving ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Parus Major ◽

Behavioural Plasticity ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Problem Solve ◽

Induced Changes ◽

Host Behaviour ◽

Problem Solving Task

ABSTRACTThe microbial community in the gut is influenced by environmental factors, especially diet, which can moderate host behaviour through the microbiome-gut-brain axis. However, the ecological relevance of microbiome-mediated behavioural plasticity in wild animals is unknown. We presented wild-caught great tits (Parus major) with a problem-solving task and showed that performance was weakly associated with variation in the gut microbiome. We then manipulated the gut microbiome by feeding birds one of two diets that differed in their relative levels of fat, protein and fibre content: an insect diet (low content), or a seed diet (high content). Microbial communities were less diverse among individuals given the insect compared to those on the seed diet. Individuals were less likely to problem-solve after being given the insect diet, and the same microbiota metrics that were altered as a consequence of diet were also those that correlated with variation in problem solving performance. Although the effect on problem-solving behaviour could have been caused by motivational or nutritional differences between our treatments, our results nevertheless raise the possibility that dietary induced changes in the gut microbiota could be an important mechanism underlying individual behavioural plasticity in wild populations.

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Diet induces parallel changes to the gut microbiota and problem solving performance in a wild bird

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-77256-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gabrielle L. Davidson ◽

Niamh Wiley ◽

Amy C. Cooke ◽

Crystal N. Johnson ◽

Fiona Fouhy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Problem Solving ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Parus Major ◽

Behavioural Plasticity ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Problem Solve ◽

Induced Changes ◽

Host Behaviour ◽

Problem Solving Task

AbstractThe microbial community in the gut is influenced by environmental factors, especially diet, which can moderate host behaviour through the microbiome-gut-brain axis. However, the ecological relevance of microbiome-mediated behavioural plasticity in wild animals is unknown. We presented wild-caught great tits (Parus major) with a problem-solving task and showed that performance was weakly associated with variation in the gut microbiome. We then manipulated the gut microbiome by feeding birds one of two diets that differed in their relative levels of fat, protein and fibre content: an insect diet (low content), or a seed diet (high content). Microbial communities were less diverse among individuals given the insect compared to those on the seed diet. Individuals were less likely to problem-solve after being given the insect diet, and the same microbiota metrics that were altered as a consequence of diet were also those that correlated with variation in problem solving performance. Although the effect on problem-solving behaviour could have been caused by motivational or nutritional differences between our treatments, our results nevertheless raise the possibility that dietary induced changes in the gut microbiota could be an important mechanism underlying individual behavioural plasticity in wild populations.

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SAT-657 The Gut Microbiome Regulates Host Glucose Homeostasis via Peripheral Serotonin

Journal of the Endocrine Society ◽

10.1210/jendso/bvaa046.775 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Damien Keating

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Glucose Homeostasis ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Serotonin Synthesis ◽

Pharmacological Inhibition ◽

Genetic Deletion ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Induced Changes ◽

Host Metabolism

Abstract The gut microbiome is an established regulator of aspects of host metabolism, such as glucose handling. Despite the known impacts of the gut microbiota on host glucose homeostasis, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. The gut microbiome is also a potent mediator of gut-derived serotonin synthesis, and this peripheral source of serotonin is itself a regulator of glucose homeostasis. Here, we determined whether the gut microbiome influences glucose homeostasis through effects on gut-derived serotonin. Using both pharmacological inhibition and genetic deletion of gut-derived serotonin synthesis, we find [1] that the improvements in host glucose handling caused by antibiotic-induced changes in microbiota composition are dependent on the synthesis of peripheral serotonin. [1] The gut microbiome regulates host glucose homeostasis via peripheral serotonin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Oct 1;116(40):19802-19804. Martin AM, Yabut JM, Choo JM, Page AJ, Sun EW, Jessup CF, Wesselingh SL, Khan WI, Rogers GB, Steinberg GR, Keating DJ.

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The gut microbiome regulates host glucose homeostasis via peripheral serotonin

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1909311116 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 116 (40) ◽

pp. 19802-19804 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Alyce M. Martin ◽

Julian M. Yabut ◽

Jocelyn M. Choo ◽

Amanda J. Page ◽

Emily W. Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Glucose Homeostasis ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Serotonin Synthesis ◽

Pharmacological Inhibition ◽

Genetic Deletion ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Induced Changes ◽

Host Metabolism

The gut microbiome is an established regulator of aspects of host metabolism, such as glucose handling. Despite the known impacts of the gut microbiota on host glucose homeostasis, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. The gut microbiome is also a potent mediator of gut-derived serotonin synthesis, and this peripheral source of serotonin is itself a regulator of glucose homeostasis. Here, we determined whether the gut microbiome influences glucose homeostasis through effects on gut-derived serotonin. Using both pharmacological inhibition and genetic deletion of gut-derived serotonin synthesis, we find that the improvements in host glucose handling caused by antibiotic-induced changes in microbiota composition are dependent on the synthesis of peripheral serotonin.

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The call of the wild: using non-model systems to investigate microbiome–behaviour relationships

Journal of Experimental Biology ◽

10.1242/jeb.224485 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 224 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Jessica A. Cusick ◽

Cara L. Wellman ◽

Gregory E. Demas

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiome ◽

Model Systems ◽

Model Organisms ◽

Comparative Approach ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Physiological Processes ◽

Bidirectional Relationship ◽

Microbiome Research ◽

Host Behaviour ◽

The Brain

ABSTRACT On and within most sites across an animal's body live complex communities of microorganisms. These microorganisms perform a variety of important functions for their hosts, including communicating with the brain, immune system and endocrine axes to mediate physiological processes and affect individual behaviour. Microbiome research has primarily focused on the functions of the microbiome within the gastrointestinal tract (gut microbiome) using biomedically relevant laboratory species (i.e. model organisms). These studies have identified important connections between the gut microbiome and host immune, neuroendocrine and nervous systems, as well as how these connections, in turn, influence host behaviour and health. Recently, the field has expanded beyond traditional model systems as it has become apparent that the microbiome can drive differences in behaviour and diet, play a fundamental role in host fitness and influence community-scale dynamics in wild populations. In this Review, we highlight the value of conducting hypothesis-driven research in non-model organisms and the benefits of a comparative approach that assesses patterns across different species or taxa. Using social behaviour as an intellectual framework, we review the bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiome and host behaviour, and identify understudied mechanisms by which these effects may be mediated.

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Folate and vitamin B-12 deficiencies additively impaired memory function and disturbed the gut microbiota in amyloid-β infused rats

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000624 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sunmin Park ◽

Sunna Kang ◽

Da Sol Kim

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Insulin Signaling ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Metabolic Diseases ◽

Memory Function ◽

Amyloid Β ◽

Impaired Memory ◽

Ca1 Region ◽

Folate And Vitamin B12

Abstract. Folate and vitamin B12(V-B12) deficiencies are associated with metabolic diseases that may impair memory function. We hypothesized that folate and V-B12 may differently alter mild cognitive impairment, glucose metabolism, and inflammation by modulating the gut microbiome in rats with Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-like dementia. The hypothesis was examined in hippocampal amyloid-β infused rats, and its mechanism was explored. Rats that received an amyloid-β(25–35) infusion into the CA1 region of the hippocampus were fed either control(2.5 mg folate plus 25 μg V-B12/kg diet; AD-CON, n = 10), no folate(0 folate plus 25 μg V-B12/kg diet; AD-FA, n = 10), no V-B12(2.5 mg folate plus 0 μg V-B12/kg diet; AD-V-B12, n = 10), or no folate plus no V-B12(0 mg folate plus 0 μg V-B12/kg diet; AD-FAB12, n = 10) in high-fat diets for 8 weeks. AD-FA and AD-VB12 exacerbated bone mineral loss in the lumbar spine and femur whereas AD-FA lowered lean body mass in the hip compared to AD-CON(P < 0.05). Only AD-FAB12 exacerbated memory impairment by 1.3 and 1.4 folds, respectively, as measured by passive avoidance and water maze tests, compared to AD-CON(P < 0.01). Hippocampal insulin signaling and neuroinflammation were attenuated in AD-CON compared to Non-AD-CON. AD-FAB12 impaired the signaling (pAkt→pGSK-3β) and serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels the most among all groups. AD-CON decreased glucose tolerance by increasing insulin resistance compared to Non-AD-CON. AD-VB12 and AD-FAB12 increased insulin resistance by 1.2 and 1.3 folds, respectively, compared to the AD-CON. AD-CON and Non-AD-CON had a separate communities of gut microbiota. The relative counts of Bacteroidia were lower and those of Clostridia were higher in AD-CON than Non-AD-CON. AD-FA, but not V-B12, separated the gut microbiome community compared to AD-CON and AD-VB12(P = 0.009). In conclusion, folate and B-12 deficiencies impaired memory function by impairing hippocampal insulin signaling and gut microbiota in AD rats.

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Scientific Problem Solving in a Virtual Laboratory: A Comparison Between Individuals and Pairs

Swiss Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1024/1421-0185.67.2.71 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 67 (2) ◽

pp. 71-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Yolanda A. Métrailler ◽

Ester Reijnen ◽

Cornelia Kneser ◽

Klaus Opwis

Keyword(s):

Visual Search ◽

Problem Solving ◽

Process Data ◽

Scientific Problem ◽

Domain Specific ◽

Scientific Problem Solving ◽

Before And After ◽

Verbal Data ◽

Psychological Knowledge ◽

Problem Solving Task

This study compared individuals with pairs in a scientific problem-solving task. Participants interacted with a virtual psychological laboratory called Virtue to reason about a visual search theory. To this end, they created hypotheses, designed experiments, and analyzed and interpreted the results of their experiments in order to discover which of five possible factors affected the visual search process. Before and after their interaction with Virtue, participants took a test measuring theoretical and methodological knowledge. In addition, process data reflecting participants’ experimental activities and verbal data were collected. The results showed a significant but equal increase in knowledge for both groups. We found differences between individuals and pairs in the evaluation of hypotheses in the process data, and in descriptive and explanatory statements in the verbal data. Interacting with Virtue helped all students improve their domain-specific and domain-general psychological knowledge.

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Moving to Solution

Experimental Psychology (formerly Zeitschrift für Experimentelle Psychologie) ◽

10.1027/1618-3169/a000213 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 60 (6) ◽

pp. 403-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

K. Werner ◽

M. Raab

Keyword(s):

Problem Solving ◽

Embodied Cognition ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Problem Space ◽

Arm Swing ◽

String Problem ◽

Problem Solving Process ◽

Problem Solving Task ◽

Bodily Movements

Embodied cognition theories suggest a link between bodily movements and cognitive functions. Given such a link, it is assumed that movement influences the two main stages of problem solving: creating a problem space and creating solutions. This study explores how specific the link between bodily movements and the problem-solving process is. Seventy-two participants were tested with variations of the two-string problem (Experiment 1) and the water-jar problem (Experiment 2), allowing for two possible solutions. In Experiment 1 participants were primed with arm-swing movements (swing group) and step movements on a chair (step group). In Experiment 2 participants sat in front of three jars with glass marbles and had to sort these marbles from the outer jars to the middle one (plus group) or vice versa (minus group). Results showed more swing-like solutions in the swing group and more step-like solutions in the step group, and more addition solutions in the plus group and more subtraction solutions in the minus group. This specificity of the connection between movement and problem-solving task will allow further experiments to investigate how bodily movements influence the stages of problem solving.

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