Annual Research Review: Critical windows – the microbiota-gut-brain axis in neurocognitive development
Open accessAbstract
The gut microbiota is a vast, complex, and fascinating ecosystem of microorganisms that resides in the human gastrointestinal tract. As an integral part of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, it is now being recognized that the microbiota is a modulator of brain and behavior, across species. Intriguingly, periods of change in the microbiota coincide with the development of other body systems and particularly the brain. We hypothesize that these times of parallel development are biologically relevant, corresponding to 'sensitive periods' or 'critical windows' in the development of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Specifically, signals from the microbiota during these periods are hypothesized to be crucial for establishing appropriate communication along the axis throughout the life span. In other words, the microbiota is hypothesized to act like an expected input to calibrate the development of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The absence or disruption of the microbiota during specific developmental windows would therefore be expected to have a disproportionate effect on specific functions or potentially for regulation of the system as a whole. Evidence for microbial modulation of neurocognitive development and neurodevelopmental risk is discussed in light of this hypothesis, finishing with a focus on the challenges that lay ahead for the future study of the microbiota-gut-brain axis during development.
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Critical windows or sensitive periods during brain development, in which the microbiota can have long-lasting effects on behavior, neurochemistry, and brain morphology, have been identified in animals.
“Critical windows or sensitive periods during brain development, in which the microbiota can have long-lasting effects on behavior, neurochemistry, and brain morphology, have been identified in animals (219).”
From Diet and the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis: Sowing the Seeds of Good Mental Health (2021) · cites this paper as [219]
These extended maturations can pose an additional sensitive period for microbial priming of the maturing adolescent brain and provide opportunities to improve adolescent mental wellbeing.
“These extended maturations can pose an additional sensitive period for microbial priming of the maturing adolescent brain and provide opportunities to improve adolescent mental wellbeing (219, 287).”
From Diet and the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis: Sowing the Seeds of Good Mental Health (2021) · cites this paper as [219]
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References 200 · Cited by 176
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Jacobson, M. F., & Schardt, D. (1999). Diet, ADHD & behavior: A quarter-century review. Washington, DC: Center for Science in the Public Interest.
- Authors
- Cowan, C. S. M., Dinan, T. G., & Cryan, J. F.
- Affiliations
- University College Cork (IE)
- Corresponding author
- Cryan, John F.
- Venue
- Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2019-11-26
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 353-371
- ISSN
- 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7610
- OpenAlex
- W2990521598
- Cited by
- 176
- References
- 200
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 16
- FWCI
- 1.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Arrow@dit (Dublin Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Science Foundation Ireland (SFI/12/RC/2273_P2)
- H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (797592)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Keywords
- gut microbiota, microbiota-gut-brain axis, neurocognitive development, brain development, critical window, sensitive period, neurodevelopmental risk
- MeSH terms
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Animals, Brain, Humans, Human Development, Neurodevelopmental Disorders
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