Human threat learning is associated with gut microbiota composition

Javiera P. Oyarzun; Thomas M. Kuntz; Yoann Stussi; Olivia T. Karaman; Sophia Vranos; Bridget L. Callaghan; Curtis Huttenhower; Joseph E. LeDoux; Elizabeth A. Phelps

doi:10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac271

Human threat learning is associated with gut microbiota composition

Javiera P. Oyarzun, Thomas M. Kuntz, Yoann Stussi, Olivia T. Karaman, Sophia Vranos, Bridget L. Callaghan, Curtis Huttenhower, Joseph E. LeDoux, Elizabeth A. Phelps

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The ability to learn about threat and safety is critical for survival. Studies in rodent models have shown that the gut microbiota can modulate such behaviors. In humans, evidence showing an association with threat or extinction learning is lacking. Here, we tested whether individual variability in threat and extinction learning was related to gut microbiota composition in healthy adults. We found that threat, but not extinction learning, varies with individuals’ microbiome composition. Our results provide evidence that the gut microbiota is associated with excitatory threat learning across species.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	pgac271
Journal	PNAS Nexus
Volume	1
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac271
State	Published - Nov 1 2022

Keywords

anxiety
gut microbiota
humans
learning
threat conditioning

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General

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10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac271

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title = "Human threat learning is associated with gut microbiota composition",

abstract = "The ability to learn about threat and safety is critical for survival. Studies in rodent models have shown that the gut microbiota can modulate such behaviors. In humans, evidence showing an association with threat or extinction learning is lacking. Here, we tested whether individual variability in threat and extinction learning was related to gut microbiota composition in healthy adults. We found that threat, but not extinction learning, varies with individuals{\textquoteright} microbiome composition. Our results provide evidence that the gut microbiota is associated with excitatory threat learning across species.",

keywords = "anxiety, gut microbiota, humans, learning, threat conditioning",

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doi = "10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac271",

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T1 - Human threat learning is associated with gut microbiota composition

AU - Oyarzun, Javiera P.

AU - Kuntz, Thomas M.

AU - Stussi, Yoann

AU - Karaman, Olivia T.

AU - Vranos, Sophia

AU - Callaghan, Bridget L.

AU - Huttenhower, Curtis

AU - LeDoux, Joseph E.

AU - Phelps, Elizabeth A.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2022.

PY - 2022/11/1

Y1 - 2022/11/1

N2 - The ability to learn about threat and safety is critical for survival. Studies in rodent models have shown that the gut microbiota can modulate such behaviors. In humans, evidence showing an association with threat or extinction learning is lacking. Here, we tested whether individual variability in threat and extinction learning was related to gut microbiota composition in healthy adults. We found that threat, but not extinction learning, varies with individuals’ microbiome composition. Our results provide evidence that the gut microbiota is associated with excitatory threat learning across species.

AB - The ability to learn about threat and safety is critical for survival. Studies in rodent models have shown that the gut microbiota can modulate such behaviors. In humans, evidence showing an association with threat or extinction learning is lacking. Here, we tested whether individual variability in threat and extinction learning was related to gut microbiota composition in healthy adults. We found that threat, but not extinction learning, varies with individuals’ microbiome composition. Our results provide evidence that the gut microbiota is associated with excitatory threat learning across species.

KW - anxiety

KW - gut microbiota

KW - humans

KW - learning

KW - threat conditioning

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Human threat learning is associated with gut microbiota composition

Abstract

Keywords

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