What follows is a transcript from our discussion with Dr. Chris Palmer on the neuroscience linking mental disorders to a metabolic disorder of the brain, shedding new light on how our brains function and the potential for innovative, whole systems treatments for mental disorders.

    It is an imperative of both morality and self-preservation to improve our circumstances. British philosopher David Pearce’s 1995 work The Hedonistic Imperative speaks to this outrageous scope of suffering not so much being a condition of modernity, but more so a condition of being human.

Just about every civilization throughout history has practiced some form of neurohacking - deliberately upgrading their physiologies to positively affect their mind and psyche. The consumption of probiotic rich and fermented foods, for example, goes back over 10,000 years.

Today, the emerging field of human microbiome research has indicated that gut microbiota may play an important role in influencing brain development, behavior, and mood in humans.

We may not immediately think of influencing the microbes in the gut when looking to improve brain function and mental health, but we should.