Eating triggered by one type of neuron activation

Researchers discovered in mice that activating one type of neuron in the prefrontal cortex makes mice to eat more. This discovery could be applied for the human brain as well and it could be useful in regulating food intake in humans. The results of this study are published in the journal Nature Neuroscience by researchers from Yale who reported their discovery. The D1 dopamine-receptor neurons are responsible for increased food intake in mice but neurons` inhibition led to less feeding. The results prove that eating behavior and eating-related decisions can be mediated. “Researchers tend to be either in a camp that believes the control of eating is all regulated from the top down, or from the bottom up”, said Ralph DiLeone, associate professor of psychiatry and neurobiology and senior author of the paper. He believes that this discovery is the clear answer to the question regarding neurobiological clarity.