Cited by 108Regulation of Appetite and ObesityNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeurobiology and Insect Physiology Research

Neural circuits and motivational processes for hunger

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Sternson, Scott M, Nicholas Betley, J, Cao, Zhen Fang Huang·2013·Current Opinion in Neurobiology

Abstract

How does an organism's internal state direct its actions? At one moment an animal forages for food with acrobatic feats such as tree climbing and jumping between branches. At another time, it travels along the ground to find water or a mate, exposing itself to predators along the way. These behaviors are costly in terms of energy or physical risk, and the likelihood of performing one set of actions relative to another is strongly modulated by internal state. For example, an animal in energy deficit searches for food and a dehydrated animal looks for water. The crosstalk between physiological state and motivational processes influences behavioral intensity and intent, but the underlying neural circuits are poorly understood. Molecular genetics along with optogenetic and pharmacogenetic tools for perturbing neuron function have enabled cell type-selective dissection of circuits that mediate behavioral responses to physiological state changes. Here, we review recent progress into neural circuit analysis of hunger in the mouse by focusing on a starvation-sensitive neuron population in the hypothalamus that is sufficient to promote voracious eating. We also consider research into the motivational processes that are thought to underlie hunger in order to outline considerations for bridging the gap between homeostatic and motivational neural circuits.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.conb.2013.04.006

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Authors
Sternson, S. M., Nicholas Betley, J., & Cao, Z. F. H.
Affiliations
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Sternson, Scott M
Venue
Current Opinion in Neurobiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-06
Volume
23
Issue
3
Pages
353-360
ISSN
0959-4388 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1971104905
Cited by
108
References
73
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3
FWCI
1.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Neurobiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
Keywords
hunger, neural circuits, motivation, hypothalamus, energy homeostasis, feeding behavior, internal state
MeSH terms
Animals, Behavior, Eating, Humans, Hunger, Motivation, Neural Pathways, Neurons, Mice

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