The microbiome‐gut‐brain axis: from bowel to behavior

It is shown that germ‐free mice display alterations in stress‐responsivity, central neurochemistry and behavior indicative of a reduction in anxiety in comparison to conventional mice, offering the enticing proposition that specific modulation of the enteric microbiota may be a useful strategy for stress‐related disorders and for modulating the co‐morbid aspects of gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.