17th November 2023, Mumbai: A recent study conducted by researchers at UCL reveals a compelling connection between a hunger hormone generated in the gut and its profound impact on the decision-making region of the brain. Lead author Dr. Andrew MacAskill emphasizes the intricate relationship between hunger and decision-making, shedding light on the complexity of how our brains process food-related choices.
Unraveling the Brain’s Response: Exploring the Ventral Hippocampus
Intriguingly, the study zeroes in on the ventral hippocampus, a crucial decision-making component of the brain responsible for memory formation and behavioral guidance. The researchers observed how this area responds to hunger in mice, uncovering a nuanced relationship between neural activity and the animal’s inclination to eat. The findings suggest that the ventral hippocampus plays a pivotal role in contextualizing eating choices based on hunger hormone levels.
Neural Dynamics: Hunger’s Impact on Ventral Hippocampal Activity
The scientists observed distinct patterns in brain activity within the ventral hippocampus as hungry and satiated mice approached food. While the neural activity in this area increased for all mice, the critical difference emerged in hungry animals, where decreased activity no longer inhibited their desire to eat. This neural response was found to align with elevated levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin circulating in the bloodstream, providing a direct link between gut hormones and brain function.
Experimental Insights: Manipulating Neural Responses to Hunger Hormones
In a groundbreaking experiment, the UCL researchers were able to induce a sense of fullness in mice by activating specific neurons in the ventral hippocampus. This manipulation led to the cessation of eating, even in hungry mice. Additionally, by removing receptors for the hunger hormone ghrelin from these neurons, the researchers replicated the same result, showcasing the direct impact of ghrelin receptors on regulating eating behavior.
Ghrelin Receptors in the Brain: Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier
The study has unveiled a crucial aspect of ghrelin receptors in the brain, illustrating their ability to traverse the blood-brain barrier. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the brain’s restricted access, demonstrating that ghrelin can directly influence brain activity and control circuits that may be analogous in humans. Dr. MacAskill emphasizes the role of the hippocampus in modulating the instinct to eat, ensuring a balance between the drive to eat and the need to prevent overeating.
Expanding Horizons: Exploring Hunger’s Impact on Learning and Memory
Continuing their research journey, the scientists are delving into whether hunger extends its influence beyond eating behaviors. The investigation aims to uncover whether hunger alters learning and memory, potentially providing insights into broader cognitive functions affected by hunger. The exploration also opens doors to understanding similar mechanisms at play for stress or thirst.
Implications for Mental Health: Linking Hunger Hormones to Eating Disorders
The researchers express optimism about the broader implications of their findings, particularly in understanding the mechanisms underlying eating disorders. By exploring the potential involvement of ghrelin receptors in the hippocampus, the study contributes to the ongoing research on the intricate links between diet, mental health, and other health outcomes.
A Path Towards Prevention and Treatment
First author Dr. Ryan Wee emphasizes the significance of understanding how hunger influences decision-making, highlighting its critical role in preventing serious health problems. The hope is that unraveling the brain’s response to hunger hormones will pave the way for advancements in preventing and treating eating disorders, ultimately improving our understanding of the delicate interplay between the mind and our dietary choices.
1. How does hunger influence decision-making in the brain?
– Answer: Hunger influences decision-making by affecting neural activity in the ventral hippocampus, a key area of the brain responsible for memory and behavioral guidance. The study found that when hungry, mice exhibited decreased neural activity in this region, allowing them to override the instinct to stop eating.
2. What is the role of the hunger hormone ghrelin in the study’s findings?
– Answer: Ghrelin, a hunger hormone generated in the gut, plays a crucial role in the study. Elevated levels of ghrelin were associated with decreased neural activity in the ventral hippocampus, indicating a direct link between gut hormones and brain function. Ghrelin receptors in the brain were found to impact decision-making by influencing the circuit that regulates eating behavior.
3. Can hunger hormones cross the blood-brain barrier?
– Answer: Yes, the study revealed that hunger hormones, specifically ghrelin, can cross the blood-brain barrier. This challenges previous assumptions about restricted access to the brain, demonstrating that ghrelin can directly impact brain activity and influence decision-making in the ventral hippocampus.
4. How did researchers experimentally induce a sense of fullness in hungry mice?
– Answer: Researchers were able to experimentally make mice behave as if they were full by activating specific neurons in the ventral hippocampus. This manipulation led to the cessation of eating, even in hungry mice. Additionally, the same result was achieved by removing receptors for the hunger hormone ghrelin from these neurons.
5. What potential implications do the study’s findings have for mental health and eating disorders?
– Answer: The researchers believe their findings could contribute to understanding the mechanisms of eating disorders. By exploring the role of ghrelin receptors in the hippocampus, the study may provide insights into the links between diet, mental health, and other health outcomes. Understanding how hunger influences decision-making could aid in the prevention and treatment of eating disorders.
-by Kashvi Gala