Thecontact with a natural bacteria that lives in the soil has an antidepressant effect, reduces anxietyand seems to improve learning, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the Sage Colleges in Troy, New York (United States), and presented at the 110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
Is aboutMycobacterium vaccaewhich, according to researcher Dorothy Matthews, isa bacterium from the ground that people often breathe in or even ingestwhen you spend time in natural surroundings. Previous studies ofM.vaccaeshowed that this bacterium injected into mice stimulates the development of some neurons thatincrease serotonin levels-brain chemical compound linked to mood – and reduce anxiety.
In their new experiment, Matthews and his colleagues fed this live bacteria to a group of mice and tested their ability to move within a maze, compared to mice in a control group that did not consume the bacteria. “We discovered thatmice fed theM. vaccaethey moved through the maze fasterand with less anxiety than control mice, “Matthews noted. However, once the bacteria were eliminated from the mice’s diet, the effect faded until it disappeared, suggesting that it is temporary.
The researcher believes that, although the new study was carried out in mice, it could be speculated thatspending time outside where M. vaccae is present could also have a positive impact on humans. “Humans are a ‘microbial hotel’ since we have about 10 microbes for every cell we have in our body ?, he explains? It would be interesting to speculate on the possibility thatcreate learning environments in schools that include time abroad, where theM. vaccaeit is present and can reduce anxiety and improve the ability to learn to perform new tasks, “suggests Matthews.
