Hunger-Driven Motivational State Competition
Open accessAbstract
Behavioral choice is ubiquitous in the animal kingdom and is central to goal-oriented behavior. Hypothalamic Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons are critical regulators of appetite. Hungry animals, bombarded by multiple sensory stimuli, are known to modify their behavior during times of caloric need, rapidly adapting to a consistently changing environment. Utilizing ARC AgRP neurons as an entry point, we analyzed the hierarchical position of hunger related to rival drive states. Employing a battery of behavioral assays, we found that hunger significantly increases its capacity to suppress competing motivational systems, such as thirst, anxiety-related behavior, innate fear, and social interactions, often only when food is accessible. Furthermore, real-time monitoring of ARC AgRP activity revealed time-locked responses to conspecific investigation in addition to food presentation, further establishing that, even at the level of ARC AgRP neurons, choices are remarkably flexible computations, integrating internal state, external factors, and anticipated yield. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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In isolated mice, optically evoked feeding behavior persists even when a novel male or female mouse is present.
“Interestingly, optically evoked feeding behavior in isolated mice persists, even in the presence of a novel male or female mouse171.”
From Neural mechanisms of social homeostasis (2019) · cites this paper as [171]
AgRP activity during hunger is sufficient to override a competing social motivational drive.
“This finding suggests that AgRP activity in a state of hunger is sufficient to override a competing social motivational drive.”
From Neural mechanisms of social homeostasis (2019) · cites this paper as [171]
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- Authors
- Burnett, C. J., Li, C., Webber, E., Tsaousidou, E., Xue, S. Y., Brüning, J. C., & Krashes, M. J.
- Affiliations
- National Institutes of Health (US)
- University of Cologne (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Krashes, Michael J.
- Venue
- Neuron
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-10
- Volume
- 92
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 187-201
- ISSN
- 0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5082717
- OpenAlex
- W2526428758
- Cited by
- 305
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 25 · 2025: 40 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 14.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Neuron (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Kölner Universitäts PublikationsServer (Universität zu Köln) (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion)
- Site cant be reached (submittedVersion)
- MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (Z99 DK999999)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (ZIADK075087)
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- 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 › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- hunger, agouti-related peptide neurons, arcuate nucleus, behavioral choice, appetite regulation, thirst, anxiety-like behavior, innate fear, social interaction, food availability, internal state
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus, Behavior, Animal, Cues, Eating, Hunger, Mice, Transgenic, Motivation, Neurons, Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transport Proteins, Mice, Agouti-Related Protein
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