Hunger-sensing hypothalamic neurons drive food consumption despite environmental threat
Hunger-sensing hypothalamic neurons drive food consumption despite environmental threat
Clair Kelly ’25, Neuroscience major
Emma Morley ’25, Biology and Psychology major
Olivia Belt ’25, Biology, Psychology major
Faculty Mentor: Dr Ryan Post, Neuroscience
Poster Presentation: Wednesday, April 24, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Animals have multiple competing drives that attempt to differentially influence behavior. How does a coherent behavior emerge when faced with conflicting survival needs like hunger and fear? To address this question, we optogenetically stimulated a population of hunger-sensing neurons in the hypothalamus in at variable frequencies when food was only available in locations that signaled threat—either in the center of a large open field or adjacent to predator odor. We found that mice gradually consumed more food as stimulation frequency increased, suggesting that neural circuits for hunger may outcompete circuits for simultaneous needs to drive behavior.
