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Hunger‐driven adaptive prioritization of behavior
Author(s) -
Smith Nicholas K.,
Grueter Brad A.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/febs.15791
Subject(s) - biological neural network , neuroscience , arcuate nucleus , prioritization , adaptation (eye) , adaptive behavior , psychology , biology , computer science , hypothalamus , developmental psychology , management science , economics
In order to survive, an animal must adapt its behavioral priorities to accommodate changing internal and external conditions. Hunger, a universally recognized interoceptive signal, promotes food intake though increasingly well‐understood neural circuits. Less understood, is how hunger is integrated into the neural computations that guide nonfeeding behaviors. Within the brain, agouti‐related peptide neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus have been found to powerfully stimulate feeding in addition to mediating other hunger‐driven behavioral phenotypes. In this review, we compile the behavioral plasticity downstream of hunger and present identified or potential molecular and neural circuit mechanisms. We catalogue hunger's ability to increase exploration, decrease anxiety, and alter social behavior, among other phenotypes. Finally, we suggest paths forward for understanding hunger‐driven behavioral adaptation and discuss the benefits of understanding state‐dependent modulation of neural circuits controlling behavior.