The 4E approach to the human microbiome: Nested interactions between the gut‐brain/body system within natural and built environments

Abstract

The complexity of the human mind and its interaction with the environment is one of the main epistemological debates throughout history. Recent ideas, framed as the 4E perspective to cognition, highlight that human experience depends causally on both cerebral and extracranial processes, but also is embedded in a particular sociomaterial context and is a product of historical accumulation of trajectory changes throughout life.Accordingly, the human microbiome is one of the most intriguing actors modulating brain function and physiology. Here, we present the 4E approach to the Human Microbiome for understanding mental processes from a broader perspective, encompassing one's body physiology and environment throughout their lifespan, interconnected by microbiome community structure and dynamics. We review evidence supporting the approach theoretically and motivates the study of the global set of microbial ecosystem networks encountered by a person across their lifetime (from skin to gut to natural and built environments). We furthermore trace future empirical implementation of the approach. We finally discuss novel research opportunities and clinical interventions aimed toward developing low-cost/high-benefit integrative and personalized biopsycho-socio-environmental treatments for mental health and including the brain-gutmicrobiome axis.

Psychobiotic Effects on Anxiety Are Modulated by Lifestyle Behaviors: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial on Healthy Adults

“…However, to the best of our knowledge, there is little research considering these factors to this date. In response to this challenge, our analyses embrace an embodied, extended, and embedded account of cognitive processes, in which the mutual influence between lifestyle patterns and microbiome dynamics are not understood as peripheral factors, but as constituent parts of mental processes [ 2 ].…”

“…Communication between extracranial signals and the brain has received increasing attention in recent decades given its impact on cognition and mental processes [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. The gut-brain axis is one of the most relevant topics of this body-brain research, positioning the gut microbiota as a target for clinical interest [ 4 ].…”

“…Well-being can be defined as the optimal psychological functioning and its experience, where physical and subjective factors are integrated [ 12 ]. Recently, a theoretical framework was developed in order to include the microbiome in the current debates of cognitive science, giving theoretical support to future research agendas [ 2 , 13 ]. In brief, human psychological processes and functioning might depend in part on: (i) the brain, which is inseparable from a body, with the microbiome being a functional part of this body, and (ii) behavioral activities developed through people’s lifestyles (i.e., diet, physical activity, contact with nature), which in turn are some of the greatest adult human microbiome modulators.…”

The Future of Psychotherapy Research and Neuroscience: Introducing the 4E/MoBI Approach to the Study of Patient–Therapist Interaction

“…In the biomedical model, the prevailing notion of neuro-reductionism views psychiatric disorders as brain diseases, which might be stated as the mainstream perspective for the understanding and treatment of these diagnoses. In contrast, for the enactive approach, human experience is a process embodied in physiological dynamics and-at the same time-incorporates and happens in the world due to the interaction with technological, sociopolitical, cultural, demographic, and even geographic aspects of existence (Clark & Chalmers, 1998;Gallagher, 2017;Newen et al, 2018;Palacios-García et al, 2022;Parada & Rossi, 2021;Thelen & Smith, 1995;Varela, 1990).…”

Perspectives on Inequity and Health Disparities in Chile and Their Relationship to Microbial Ecology

“…Approaching the problem from the perspective of a syndemic could aid in the understanding and management of the risk factors promoting the trends previously described, and novel strategies involving microbial rewilding strategies may play a role in this. Similarly, theoretical approaches that do justice to such complexity are needed ( 79 – 81 ). Novel, integrative approaches are of utmost importance for the >10% of the Chilean population living below the poverty line and the poorest billion people on the planet ( 82 ).…”