I'm a third year student at Santa Clara University, studying Biology, Neuroscience, and Spanish. While I'm not entirely sure what path I'll pursue after Santa Clara (DPT or PA), I'm interested in bridging the gap between public health and medicine. At Santa Clara I’ve had the opportunity to broaden my understanding of Biology and Public Health in Microbiome and Epidemiology research groups.

This portfolio provides information on the connections between the gut microbiota and anxiety. Background information, definitions, statistics, and recent studies are explored. Major pathways of the gut-brain-axis are explained, and the vagus nerve is explored in more depth for it's bidirectional, direct connection to the brain. The following pages provide an overview of recent scientific advances in studying the gut flora and it's impact on brain function and behavior, specifically anxiety and stress related mental disorders.

In researching this topic, I’ve gained new insights for the process of scientific research and communication. The authors whose work I've learned from and cited here have dedicated years to studying these complex interactions. They convey their findings such that a general audiance can understand the information, while maintaining a grip on the intricate networks involved in the microbiome and gut-brain-axis. I've learned and am humbled by how there is so much more I don't know than what is covered on these few pages. I've discovered the multitude of pathways and interactions that elucidate how one answer is never enough. I have a deeper understanding of the biological and physical systems of anxiety that are often left behind in conversations of mental health. The human gut microbiome is an emerging area of research and has only recently been studied in connection to humans.

Here, I present the opportunity to consider how the microbiome can influence anxiety and depression. If anything, I hope this portfolio leaves you with more questions than answers and the excitement I feel studying Neuroscience.