"Gut Microbiota's Role in Transmitting Social Anxiety and Stress"

A study in Sweden found that transplanting gut microbiota from individuals with social anxiety disorder into mice made the mice more sensitive to social fear, indicating a potential causal role of gut microbiota in the development of social anxiety disorder. The study revealed differences in gut microbiota composition and biochemical changes in mice that received microbiota from individuals with social anxiety disorder, leading to increased social fear responses. The findings highlight the potential influence of gut microbiota on mental health and suggest the microbiota-gut-brain axis as a target for developing novel therapeutics for social anxiety disorder.