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Soil microbes may influence our emotions: a hypothesis under investigation
In Australia, researchers are investigating how microbes—including those found in soil—may influence emotional states and social relationships through the gut–brain axis.
- According to a hypothesis put forward by some researchers, microbes in the soil and in the environments around us may be able to influence our emotions.
- Through the gut–brain axis, they could modulate hormones such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.
- Further research is needed, but these findings could pave the way for microbiome-based strategies for mental health and relational well-being.
Microbes found in soil and surrounding environments may influence the human microbiota and the gut–brain axis, potentially shaping emotional states and relational dynamics. This is the hypothesis being explored by researchers in biological sciences at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia.
A review article published in a journal of the American Society for Microbiology synthesises evidence suggesting that microbes can modulate key hormones and neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. As a result, the human gut microbiome may influence hormonal pathways involved in emotions related not only to love, but also to hate and aggression.
Starting from microbes: new strategies for mental health
“We are not claiming that microbes cause love,” said Jake Robinson, who leads the research. “Our aim is to map plausible biological pathways, grounded in microbiology and endocrinology, that researchers can now test through rigorous human studies.” If these pathways are confirmed, the findings could open up new microbiome-based strategies to support mental health and relational well-being.
At present, further research is needed to clarify the extent to which microbiomes contribute to the neurobiology of emotions, and whether manipulating microbial communities could modulate emotional and social behaviours.
The role of soil in biological, environmental, and social interactions
As part of their research, scientists are also mapping the complex network of interactions between biological, environmental, and social systems, focusing on the potential role of soil—with which humans come into contact through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the plants that surround us.
“In addition to emitting important chemical and microbial signals, healthy soils support vegetation that improves air quality, reduces noise, and moderates temperature, creating immersive environments that influence our nervous, endocrine, and immune systems,” explained Martin Breed, one of the study’s authors. By contrast, soil degradation can increase harmful airborne particulates and reduce the richness of the aerobiome, potentially leading to downstream effects on inflammation and mental well-being.
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