Mind over matter: How the brain says “no” to overeating

According to an interesting study conducted by researchers from The Rockefeller University , specific brain cells in mice curb their impulse to eat . These cells help regulate memory. They are also an integral part of a larger brain circuit that encourages balanced eating habits. The mental processes linked to feeding habits Food is essential for survival, and animals have evolved tough physiological systems that attract them to food. These systems ensure that animals keep coming back for more nourishment. Scientists have long considered feeding as a visceral and instinctive process. When animals see or smell an appetizing food, they will immediately consume it. But the results of this study imply that certain mental processes affect animals’ decisions to either eat or ignore food. To illustrate, a human may choose not to eat a snack because it’s almost time for their lunch break at work. While other mammals don’t have a similar internal monologue, researchers believe that eating habits are influenced by complex cognition. Other studies have found that defects in the hippocampus, a part of the brain linked to memory, can change feeding behavior. This hints that past experiences affect an animal’s attraction to food. Using data from this study, Estefania Azevedo, a postdoctoral associate from Rockefeller University , was able to identify a group of hippocampal cells called hD2R neurons . These neurons become active whenever a mouse is fed. The neurons respond to the presence of food by preventing animals from eating it. Discover how to prevent and reverse heart disease (and other cardio related events) with this free ebook : Written by popular Natural News writer Vicki Batt, this book includes everything you need to know about preventing heart disease, reversing hypertension, and nurturing your cardiac health without medication. Learn More. Azevedo and her colleagues […]

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