New insights in the gut–brain axis: the role of bioelectrical microbiome

Abstract

The gut–brain axis describes the complex, bidirectional communication network connecting the central nervous system, the enteric nervous system, and the gut microbiome. Beyond chemical messengers and immune signaling, recent evidence highlights endogenous bioelectricity — ion flows, voltage gradients, and electric fields — as an additional layer of communication within this axis. Diet influences the state of gut bacteria, shaping their communication with neural cells. This review explores bacterial bioelectric signaling and its impact on neuronal function. Cutting-edge tools like the proposed Brain-Bacteria Interface will enhance our understanding of these interactions. By integrating bioelectricity into the microbiome–gut–brain axis framework, this research unveils new therapeutic possibilities using diet and dietary nutrients, as well as bioelectric interventions, offering fresh insights into interkingdom communication and its role in health and disease.