What Fuels Our Cravings for Food and Drink? Key Role May Be Played by Amygdala Neurons
To make sure our bodies receive adequate calories and fluids, the brain depends on an intricate system of cells, signals, and pathways to direct us toward eating, drinking, or stopping. Nevertheless, many aspects of how the brain interprets bodily requirements and transforms these into actions remain mysterious. In a new study published in Nature Communications Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, working alongside colleagues at the University of Regensburg and Stanford University, have pinpointed particular groups of neurons within the amygdala—a region central to emotions and motivation—that are crucial for this function. These specific "thirst" and "hunger" nerve cells function via separate pathways, affecting the urge to consume food or fluids. Conducted with mice, this research illuminates the amygdala’s part in managing our dietary requirements and could provide understanding into eating disorders and addicti...