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Pablo Martínez-Juarez
WriterEnvironmental economist and science journalist. For a few years, I worked as a researcher on the economics of climate change adaptation. Now I write about that and much more.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
Hunger and thirst are fundamental for your survival. Your body needs to remind you to consume water and nutrients regularly. Evolution has established a complex mechanism for this purpose. In fact, it’s more complicated than you might initially think, and researchers are still exploring how it works.
Interpreting the signals. A recent study published in Nature Communications provides insights into how the human brain interprets the signals that indicate a need for food and hydration. Researchers also studied how the brain translates these needs into actions. The team was even able to manipulate the preferences of mice, making them desire drinks they previously avoided by stimulating specific neurons.
Neurons. The study identified groups of nerve cells in the amygdala that are involved in the sensations of hunger and thirst. Some of these neurons are specialized for one function, while others serve multiple roles. This led to the discovery of the first group of “thirst neurons” within the amygdala.
“When we activated these neurons, the mice drank more, and when we suppressed their activity, the mice drank less. We also identified another group of neurons in the same region of the amygdala that drives thirst but also plays a role in regulating hunger,” author Federica Fermani explains in a press release.
Optogenetics. Researchers employed several genetic tools, including a technique known as optogenetics, to investigate neuronal activity. This method activates specific neurons using light-sensitive proteins and a laser that can deliver light precisely to individual cells.
To better understand how the absence of certain neurons affects animal behavior, the team combined optogenetics with silencing techniques to “turn off” specific neurons. Researchers also utilized methods to monitor individual neurons across different brain regions. This enabled them to map the functioning of neural networks through their connections with other cells.
What about humans? While findings in mice don’t always translate directly to humans, researchers noted that the structure of the amygdala is similar in both species. This similarity suggests that the recent discoveries could help understand how emotions and motivations influence people’s eating habits, including food and drink choices.
Beyond basic needs. The team explored how the activity of these neurons shapes people’s tastes and preferences. Eating and drinking aren’t merely about survival. They also engage your sense of taste.
To investigate this connection, researchers offered mice a less appealing drink while stimulating neurons in the central region of their amygdala. They found that this neuronal stimulation altered the animals’ preferences, increasing their liking for a drink they had previously rejected.
According to the study authors, understanding the function of these neurons may help explain why some individuals eat more or less than others. Gaining insights into these mechanisms could also contribute to preventing health issues associated with different eating behaviors.
Image | Vitaly Gariev
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