The Mouse fall in Love with the Cat - Microbiome and Consciousness

The gut flora, probiotics, and microbiome - these are the names of the tiny friends living inside and around us, safeguarding our overall health.

In recent years, a deep connection has been discovered between our digestive system and our mood and consciousness. New research talks about the influence of our own microbiome on our brain and consciousness.

Professor Chalmish's Fascinating Lecture:

In one of Professor Chalmish's captivating lectures on microbiome and its connection to our brain and consciousness, he told us an intriguing story about a strange phenomenon observed among the cat and mouse population.

Cats mark their territory by scattering their feces in the relevant area. A mouse approaching the area sniffs the mark and knows to stay away. There is a parasite that lives in the intestines of the cat; it's the most comfortable environment for it to thrive. When this parasite exits the cat's body in its feces, it seeks to return to its comfortable environment. A mouse passing by and sniffing the feces could become infected by the parasite. Once the parasite settles in the mouse's body, it can alter the mouse's consciousness and make it act against its natural instincts, causing the mouse to fall in love with the cat and run towards it. The cat, on the other hand, finds easy prey, eats the mouse, and the parasite returns to its home.

The research suggests that a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which normally lives in the intestines of cats, can infect mice. When the parasite infects a mouse, it can alter the mouse's behavior and make it more attracted to the scent of cat urine. This change in behavior can make the mouse more likely to be caught by a cat, which is necessary for the parasite to complete its life cycle. Once the cat eats the infected mouse, the parasite returns to the cat's intestines to reproduce.

This phenomenon shocked the scientific world. So our gut microbiota, the bacteria, parasites, and fungi, can control our consciousness?

The Saying "You are What You Eat": This refers to the food we consume. The richer our diet is in probiotics and prebiotics (the nourishment for the bacteria) and the microbiota balance is maintained, the more balanced our emotional health will be.

Studies investigating the connection between the microbiome and consciousness and behavior have emerged in recent years and have gained significant attention among scientists and the general public. One of the central areas of this research is the connection between the digestive system and the brain and consciousness.

These studies highlight the crucial and central function of the gut microbiome in systems like digestion, immunity, and its influence on the brain, consciousness, and human behavior. They emphasize the importance of maintaining gut health as an integral part of overall physical and mental well-being.