Out of our skull, in our skin: the Microbiota-Gut-Brain axis and the Extended Cognition Thesis

Abstract According to a shared functionalist view in philosophy of mind, cognitive system, and function thereof, is based on the components organism it realized by which, indeed, play causal role regulating our processes. This led philosophers suggest also that, thus, cognition could be seen as an extended process, whose vehicle can extend not only outside brain but beyond bodily boundaries, different kinds devices. what we call ‘ Externally Extended Cognition Thesis .’ notion has generated lively debate. Here, offer novel cognition, according which being (and expanded) brain, still inside body. Internally ’. Not thesis approach while defending innovative. The argument supported recent empirical findings life sciences biomedicine, that gut microbiota’s activity functional processes behaviors. In doing so, embrace holobiont-perspective , possible claim biological individuals are autonomous entities with clear should rather networks multiple interactions among species. Thus, analyzing sets evidence light argue microbiota component organism. On basis philosophical interpretation this evidence, however, there no impediments standing way considering extension system. If amounts extending out ‘our skull’, though confining within body’: gut’. instance ,’ benefits for original (biologically informed) theory discussed.