Now, scientists have discovered what they are calling our “sixth sense”: the ability for our gut microbes to communicate with our brain in real time. Published in Nature, this breakthrough study outlines how there is a direct line of communication between the gut and the brain, and changes what we thought we knew about this important partnership at work inside our bodies.

The connection between our gut microbiome and our brain is nothing new. Often referred to as the gut-brain axis, this collection of nerve pathways constantly sends signals back and forth that can inform our metabolism, gastrointestinal issues, and even our mental health.

For this study, researchers were interested in approaching the gut-brain relationship in a new way.

“We were curious whether the body could sense microbial patterns in real time and not just as an immune or inflammatory response, but as a neural response that guides behavior in real time,” said Diego Bohórquez, a professor of medicine and neurobiology at Duke University School of Medicine, in a press release.