The neuronal logic of how internal states control food choice
Open accessPublished version of a preprint
Abstract
When deciding what to eat, animals evaluate sensory information about food quality alongside multiple ongoing internal states 1-10. How internal states interact to alter sensorimotor processing and shape decisions such as food choice remains poorly understood. Here we use pan-neuronal volumetric activity imaging in the brain of Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the neuronal basis of internal state-dependent nutrient appetites. We created a functional atlas of the ventral fly brain and find that metabolic state shapes sensorimotor processing across large sections of the neuropil. By contrast, reproductive state acts locally to define how sensory information is translated into feeding motor output. These two states thus synergistically modulate protein-specific food intake and food choice. Finally, using a novel computational strategy, we identify driver lines that label neurons innervating state-modulated brain regions and show that the newly identified 'borboleta' region is sufficient to direct food choice towards protein-rich food. We thus identify a generalizable principle by which distinct internal states are integrated to shape decision making and propose a strategy to uncover and functionally validate how internal states shape behaviour.
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The model predicts central neurons that respond to both sugar and water taste activation, as well as sugar-specific and water-specific neurons.
“In contrast, our model predicts central neurons that respond to both sugar and water taste activation, as well as sugar-specific and water-specific neurons, consistent with brainwide calcium imaging studies29,46.”
From A Drosophila computational brain model reveals sensorimotor processing (2024) · cites this paper as [46]
Cites
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A Drosophila computational brain model reveals sensorimotor processing
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“In contrast, our model predicts central neurons that respond to both sugar and water taste activation, as well as sugar-specific and water-specific neurons, consistent with brainwide calcium imaging studies 29,46 .”
ResultThe spatial and temporal structure of neural activity across the fly brain
Schaffer, E. S., Mishra, N., Whiteway, M. R., Li, W., Vancura, M. B., Freedman, J., Patel, K. B., Voleti, V., Paninski, L., Hillman, E. M. C., et al. (2023) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-023-41261-2 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
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Mating activates neuroendocrine pathways signaling hunger in Drosophila females
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“model predicts central neurons that respond to both sugar and water taste activation, as well as sugar-specific and water-specific neurons, consistent with brain-wide calcium imaging studies (Harris, 2015; Münch et al., 2022).”
Result
- Authors
- Münch, D., Goldschmidt, D., & Ribeiro, C.
- Affiliations
- Champalimaud Foundation (PT)
- Corresponding author
- Münch, Daniel
- Ribeiro, Carlos
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 2022-07-06
- Volume
- 607
- Issue
- 7920
- Pages
- 747-755
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- OpenAlex
- W4283826056
- Cited by
- 68
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 7
- FWCI
- 5.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (NIH P40OD018537)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH P40OD018537, P40OD018537)
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (PD/BD/114273/2016)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Keywords
- food choice, internal state, metabolic status, reproductive status, sensorimotor processing, feeding behavior, Drosophila melanogaster, decision-making
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Appetite, Dietary Proteins, Drosophila melanogaster, Food Preferences, Logic, Neurons, Neuropil, Feedback, Sensory
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