Gut bacteria may modify behavior in worms, influencing eating habits

(NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) Gut bacteria are tiny but may play an outsized role not only in the host animal's digestive health, but in their overall well-being. According to a new study in Nature, specific gut bacteria in the worm may modify the animal's behavior, directing its dining decisions. The research was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.