title: Bifidobacterium longum 1714 as a translational psychobiotic: modulation of stress, electrophysiology and neurocognition in healthy volunteers.
abstract: The emerging concept of psychobiotics-live microorganisms with a potential mental health benefit-represents a novel approach for the management of stress-related conditions. The majority of studies have focused on animal models. Recent preclinical studies have identified the B. longum 1714 strain as a putative psychobiotic with an impact on stress-related behaviors, physiology and cognitive performance. Whether such preclinical effects could be translated to healthy human volunteers remains unknown. We tested whether psychobiotic consumption could affect the stress response, cognition and brain activity patterns. In a within-participants design, healthy volunteers (N=22) completed cognitive assessments, resting electroencephalography and were exposed to a socially evaluated cold pressor test at baseline, post-placebo and post-psychobiotic. Increases in cortisol output and subjective anxiety in response to the socially evaluated cold pressor test were attenuated. Furthermore, daily reported stress was reduced by psychobiotic consumption. We also observed subtle improvements in hippocampus-dependent visuospatial memory performance, as well as enhanced frontal midline electroencephalographic mobility following psychobiotic consumption. These subtle but clear benefits are in line with the predicted impact from preclinical screening platforms. Our results indicate that consumption of B. longum 1714 is associated with reduced stress and improved memory. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the benefits of this putative psychobiotic in relevant stress-related conditions and to unravel the mechanisms underlying such effects.
authors: APC Microbiome Institute, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.|Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Allen
authors: INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.|Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Hutch
authors: APC Microbiome Institute, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: Y E
authors: YE
authors: Borre
authors: APC Microbiome Institute, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.|Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Kennedy
authors: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Temko
authors: INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.|Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Boylan
authors: Alimentary Health Ltd., Cork Airport Business Park, Cork, Ireland.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Murphy
authors: APC Microbiome Institute, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.|Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.|Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Cryan
authors: APC Microbiome Institute, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.|Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: T G
authors: TG
authors: Dinan
authors: APC Microbiome Institute, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.|Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, Biosciences Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D000069978:Bifidobacterium longum; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D040701:Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone