A new study has found that gut bacteria may be responsible for how a baby perceives and reacts to fearful situations. Newborns and babies are brand new, and this means that they are experiencing this big world for the first time, and that means that every light, movement, and sound is new to them. If we put ourselves in our baby’s place for just a moment, it can be easily understood that they should be expected to be “jumpy” or “easily frightened” by things that they hear or see. However, moms also notice that some babies are more susceptible to fear than others, and may have just assumed that is because we are constantly told that every baby is different.
While that is true, these differences may have a biological explanation as studies are showing. According to Medical Xpress, researchers have found a difference in gut bacteria in infants that may make them more sensitive to fearful situations.
This study was completed by Michigan State University and the University of North Carolina and it can be read in full here. When experts look at the human digestive system, they find that there is an array of microorganisms that are known as the ‘gut microbiome.’ Through their research, they have been able to find that infants who had a stronger fear response had a different gut microbiome than others.
This study is vital because observing how someone responds to a scary situation in their early life can indicate their future mental health. These findings show that a person’s gut microbiome at birth could indicate to professionals that a child may need to be monitored as they grow to make sure their mental health is nourished and cared for. Researchers state that fear is an important evolutionary response, and it allows children and adults to keep themselves safe in a situation that is scary.
The problem is that if they are unable to calm that response down when they are safe, they could be at a higher risk of developing anxiety and depression later in life. It is also not just those with strong fear reactions that experts are concerned about. Babies who have a more “muted” response to fear may grow to carry unemotional traits and even antisocial behavior. Looking at a baby’s gut microbiome can indicate many things about what their future emotional state could look like and may lead to more preventative care.
Sources: Medical Xpress, Nature