- Researchers at a university studied healthy and germ-free mice.
- The mice ate a high-fat diet for several days.
- The gut has many nerve cells and senses food.
- Live gut bacteria moved from the gut to the brain.
- Bacteria travelled along the vagus nerve to the brain.
- Scientists found only a few bacteria in the brain.
- Going back to a normal diet helped reduce bacteria.
- The team says more study in humans is needed.
Difficult words
- researcher — person who studies and tests in scienceResearchers
- germ-free — without bacteria or tiny living things
- high-fat diet — food with a lot of fat
- vagus nerve — nerve that connects gut and brain
- bacterium — very small living organisms found in bodybacteria
- nerve cell — cell that sends signals in the bodynerve cells
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever seen a mouse?
- Do you eat foods with a lot of fat?
- Would you like to learn about the brain?
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